Pitch Axis Theory
Encyclopedia
The Pitch axis theory is a musical technique used in constructing chord progressions. The tonic
is used as the bass note, and melodic scales are chosen according to the chords
that lie beneath them. Pitch axis theory was developed by guitarist
Joe Satriani
The pitch axis is the pitch
common and most important to, the tonic
of the initial key
, all chords
in a chord progression
shifts; that is, C Ionian
(C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C) is also D Dorian
(D-E-F-G-A-B-C-D), E Phrygian
(E-F-G-A-B-C-D-E) and so on, until you return to the original C Ionian Mode. Therefore, each of the seven modes of any of the twelve major keys is also a mode for another six of the modes in that particular key.
Pitch axis theory suggests that for each mode, there is a chord that accompanies it. When that chord occurs, the corresponding mode should be used for the melody or for soloing.
The more common modes, along with their chords:
This is the first part of pitch axis theory. The second step is implementing these modes as chords built on a common root. This is best shown with an example.
lydian
ABCDEFG
|
|
aeolian -- A -- locrian
ABCDEFG | ABCDEFG
|
mixolydian
ABCDEFG
Thus the non-diatonic chord progression constructed from chords diatonic to each mode:
| A5#11 | A7sus4 | Fmaj7/A | A7sus4 |
|A-lydian|A-mixolydian|A-aeolian|A-mixolydian|
'", originally played only on the fifth-string.
This song is fully based on the pitch axis of E. The chords E major 13, E minor 7 sharp 5, E major 13, and E 7 suspended 4 imply a transition between E Lydian, E Aeolian, E Lydian, and E Mixolydian. This pattern continues throughout the song, keeping a strong feel of tonality while changing through the modes in a rather disorienting way.
The chord E minor 7 sharp 5 is not a perfect match for E Aeolian. When spelling out the mode to use over this chord, instead of thinking of the chord as E minor 7 sharp 5 (E-F#-G-A-B#-C-D-E), think of it as E minor 7 add 6 (E-F#-G-A-B-C-D-E). Otherwise, the E diminished scale might be a good choice (E-F#-G-A-A#-C-C#-D#-E)
It is also important to note than in conventional music theory, there is no such thing as an E minor 7 sharp 5 chord. This chord (spelled E, G, C and D) is really a first inversion C major chord with an added 9th (the D), which could also be thought of as a C major chord with an E in the bass, or C/E. From here you could choose to use either a C Ionian or Lydian scale, which would correspond to an E Phrygian or E Aeolian respectively. Whilst this might seem to be making the chord more complicated, it also helps to explain the relative lack of tension and 'major' sound of the chord.
The break in Dream Theater
's "Lie" is built on Pitch Axis Theory. The bassist plays B while the guitarist and keyboardist imply the chords in the progression: B minor, B minor 7, C# dominant 7, and E minor.
The scales used for each of these four chords are B Aeolian(natural minor), B Dorian, C# Mixolydian, and E Aeolian, respectively. However, as these are all diatonic modes, they can all be thought of as being based on the root of B. If the scales are shifted to start on B, then the progression appears as B Aeolian, B Dorian, B Lydian, and B Phrygian.
Tonic (music)
In music, the tonic is the first scale degree of the diatonic scale and the tonal center or final resolution tone. The triad formed on the tonic note, the tonic chord, is thus the most significant chord...
is used as the bass note, and melodic scales are chosen according to the chords
Chord (music)
A chord in music is any harmonic set of two–three or more notes that is heard as if sounding simultaneously. These need not actually be played together: arpeggios and broken chords may for many practical and theoretical purposes be understood as chords...
that lie beneath them. Pitch axis theory was developed by guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Joe Satriani
Joe Satriani
Joseph "Joe" Satriani is an American instrumental rock guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, with multiple Grammy Award nominations...
The pitch axis is the pitch
Pitch (music)
Pitch is an auditory perceptual property that allows the ordering of sounds on a frequency-related scale.Pitches are compared as "higher" and "lower" in the sense associated with musical melodies,...
common and most important to, the tonic
Tonic (music)
In music, the tonic is the first scale degree of the diatonic scale and the tonal center or final resolution tone. The triad formed on the tonic note, the tonic chord, is thus the most significant chord...
of the initial key
Key (music)
In music theory, the term key is used in many different and sometimes contradictory ways. A common use is to speak of music as being "in" a specific key, such as in the key of C major or in the key of F-sharp. Sometimes the terms "major" or "minor" are appended, as in the key of A minor or in the...
, all chords
Chord (music)
A chord in music is any harmonic set of two–three or more notes that is heard as if sounding simultaneously. These need not actually be played together: arpeggios and broken chords may for many practical and theoretical purposes be understood as chords...
in a chord progression
Chord progression
A chord progression is a series of musical chords, or chord changes that "aims for a definite goal" of establishing a tonality founded on a key, root or tonic chord. In other words, the succession of root relationships...
Concept
The seven modern modes are all connected to each other by diatonicDiatonic scale
In music theory, a diatonic scale is a seven note, octave-repeating musical scale comprising five whole steps and two half steps for each octave, in which the two half steps are separated from each other by either two or three whole steps...
shifts; that is, C Ionian
Ionian mode
Ionian mode is the name assigned by Heinrich Glarean in 1547 to his new authentic mode on C , which uses the diatonic octave species from C to the C an octave higher, divided at G into a fourth species of perfect fifth plus a third species of perfect fourth : C D...
(C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C) is also D Dorian
Dorian mode
Due to historical confusion, Dorian mode or Doric mode can refer to three very different musical modes or diatonic scales, the Greek, the medieval, and the modern.- Greek Dorian mode :...
(D-E-F-G-A-B-C-D), E Phrygian
Phrygian mode
The Phrygian mode can refer to three different musical modes: the ancient Greek tonos or harmonia sometimes called Phrygian, formed on a particular set octave species or scales; the Medieval Phrygian mode, and the modern conception of the Phrygian mode as a diatonic scale, based on the latter...
(E-F-G-A-B-C-D-E) and so on, until you return to the original C Ionian Mode. Therefore, each of the seven modes of any of the twelve major keys is also a mode for another six of the modes in that particular key.
Pitch axis theory suggests that for each mode, there is a chord that accompanies it. When that chord occurs, the corresponding mode should be used for the melody or for soloing.
The more common modes, along with their chords:
| Mode | Chord(s) |
|---|---|
| Ionian mode Ionian mode Ionian mode is the name assigned by Heinrich Glarean in 1547 to his new authentic mode on C , which uses the diatonic octave species from C to the C an octave higher, divided at G into a fourth species of perfect fifth plus a third species of perfect fourth : C D... |
Maj6, Maj7 |
| Dorian mode Dorian mode Due to historical confusion, Dorian mode or Doric mode can refer to three very different musical modes or diatonic scales, the Greek, the medieval, and the modern.- Greek Dorian mode :... |
Min6, Min7 |
| Phrygian mode Phrygian mode The Phrygian mode can refer to three different musical modes: the ancient Greek tonos or harmonia sometimes called Phrygian, formed on a particular set octave species or scales; the Medieval Phrygian mode, and the modern conception of the Phrygian mode as a diatonic scale, based on the latter... |
Min7, Min7b9 |
| Phrygian Dominant mode Phrygian dominant scale In music, the altered Phrygian scale or Freygish scale , featuring an unusual key signature and a distinctive augmented second interval, is the fifth mode of the harmonic minor scale, the fifth being the dominant... |
7, 7b9 |
| Lydian mode Lydian mode The Lydian musical scale is a rising pattern of pitches comprising three whole tones, a semitone, two more whole tones, and a final semitone. This sequence of pitches roughly describes the fifth of the eight Gregorian modes, known as Mode V or the authentic mode on F, theoretically using B but in... |
Maj7, Maj7#11 |
| Mixolydian mode Mixolydian mode Mixolydian mode may refer to one of three things: the name applied to one of the ancient Greek harmoniai or tonoi, based on a particular octave species or scale; one of the medieval church modes; a modern musical mode or diatonic scale, related to the medieval mode.-Greek Mixolydian:The idea of a... |
Dom7, Dom9, Dom11 |
| Aeolian mode Aeolian mode The Aeolian mode is a musical mode or, in modern usage, a diatonic scale called the natural minor scale.The word "Aeolian" in the music theory of ancient Greece was an alternative name for what Aristoxenus called the Low Lydian tonos , nine semitones... |
Min7, Min9, Min11 |
| Locrian mode Locrian mode The Locrian mode is either a musical mode or simply a diatonic scale. Although the term occurs in several classical authors on music theory, including Cleonides and Athenaeus , there is no warrant for the modern usage of Locrian as equivalent to Glarean's Hyperaeolian mode, in either classical,... |
Min7b5, Min7b5b9 |
This is the first part of pitch axis theory. The second step is implementing these modes as chords built on a common root. This is best shown with an example.
Examples
For example:lydian
ABCDEFG
|
|
aeolian -- A -- locrian
ABCDEFG | ABCDEFG
|
mixolydian
ABCDEFG
Thus the non-diatonic chord progression constructed from chords diatonic to each mode:
| A5#11 | A7sus4 | Fmaj7/A | A7sus4 |
|A-lydian|A-mixolydian|A-aeolian|A-mixolydian|
"Satch Boogie"
"No better demonstration of the Pitch Axis device exists than the famous tap-on bridge of 'Satch BoogieSatch Boogie
"Satch Boogie" is the fifth track from the album Surfing with the Alien and along with "Surfing with the Alien" is one of Satriani's most famous pieces. The composition was considered the 55th greatest guitar solo ever by Guitar World Magazine readers. The solo is done by fast tapping, hammer-ons,...
'", originally played only on the fifth-string.
Example 1: Joe Satriani - Not of This Earth
The chord E minor 7 sharp 5 is not a perfect match for E Aeolian. When spelling out the mode to use over this chord, instead of thinking of the chord as E minor 7 sharp 5 (E-F#-G-A-B#-C-D-E), think of it as E minor 7 add 6 (E-F#-G-A-B-C-D-E). Otherwise, the E diminished scale might be a good choice (E-F#-G-A-A#-C-C#-D#-E)
It is also important to note than in conventional music theory, there is no such thing as an E minor 7 sharp 5 chord. This chord (spelled E, G, C and D) is really a first inversion C major chord with an added 9th (the D), which could also be thought of as a C major chord with an E in the bass, or C/E. From here you could choose to use either a C Ionian or Lydian scale, which would correspond to an E Phrygian or E Aeolian respectively. Whilst this might seem to be making the chord more complicated, it also helps to explain the relative lack of tension and 'major' sound of the chord.
Example 2: Dream Theater - Lie
Dream Theater
Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...
's "Lie" is built on Pitch Axis Theory. The bassist plays B while the guitarist and keyboardist imply the chords in the progression: B minor, B minor 7, C# dominant 7, and E minor.
The scales used for each of these four chords are B Aeolian(natural minor), B Dorian, C# Mixolydian, and E Aeolian, respectively. However, as these are all diatonic modes, they can all be thought of as being based on the root of B. If the scales are shifted to start on B, then the progression appears as B Aeolian, B Dorian, B Lydian, and B Phrygian.
Artists who use pitch axis theory
These artists use pitch axis theory and shifting modes in their music.- Joe SatrianiJoe SatrianiJoseph "Joe" Satriani is an American instrumental rock guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, with multiple Grammy Award nominations...
- Dream TheaterDream TheaterDream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...
- Steve VaiSteve VaiSteven Siro "Steve" Vai is a three time Grammy Award-winning American guitarist, songwriter and producer who has sold over 15 million albums. Steve Vai is widely known as a flamboyant guitar virtuoso....
- Marty FriedmanMarty Friedman (guitarist)Marty Friedman is a guitarist, well known for his tenure as the lead/rhythm guitarist for thrash metal band Megadeth, which lasted almost a decade...
- Michael Angelo BatioMichael Angelo BatioMichael Angelo Batio also known as Mike Batio or MAB, is a guitarist and columnist from Chicago, Illinois. His work has encompassed many genres, notably metal and its subgenres. Batio was voted the "No. 1 Shredder of All Time" by Guitar One Magazine in 2003...
- Guthrie GovanGuthrie GovanGuthrie Govan is a guitarist known for his work with the bands Asia , GPS, The Young Punx and The Fellowship as well as Erotic Cakes...
- Planet XPlanet X (band)Planet X is an instrumental rock/progressive metal supergroup, founded by keyboardist Derek Sherinian and drummer Virgil Donati. Throughout a decade of activity, they have released three studio albums and one live album, each with a variety of guest musicians and oft-changing...
- Yngwie Malmsteen
- Greg HoweGreg HoweGregory "Greg" Howe is an American guitarist and composer. As an active musician for nearly thirty years, he has released nine studio albums in addition to collaborating with a wide variety of artists.-Recording career:...
Related music theories
- Modal jazzModal jazzModal jazz is jazz that uses musical modes rather than chord progressions as a harmonic framework. Originating in the late 1950s and 1960s, modal jazz is characterized by Miles Davis's "Milestones" Kind of Blue and John Coltrane's classic quartet from 1960–64. Other important performers include...
- George Russell's Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal OrganizationLydian chromatic concept of tonal organizationThe Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization was written by George Russell and is the founding text of the Lydian Chromatic Concept , or Lydian Chromatic Theory . The work postulates that all music is based on the tonal gravity of the Lydian mode.-Deriving Lydian:Russell believed that...
(1953) - Polymodal chromaticismPolymodal chromaticismIn music, polymodal chromaticism is the use of any and all musical modes sharing the same final simultaneously or in succession and thus creating a texture involving all twelve notes of the chromatic scale...