D Messiaen's Mode #4 Guitar Scale
Guitar scale in Drop B tuning — fretboard diagram
TuningDrop B (BF#BEG#C#)
Frets22
D Messiaen's Mode #4 in Drop B — Notes and Intervals
The D Messiaen's Mode #4 scale is a symmetrical scale designed to have no single tonic. On Guitar, the notes are D, Eb, E, G, G#, A, Bb, C#. Messiaen used it to create what he called the charm of impossibilities, evoking a sense of spiritual wonder where the listener loses their sense of direction. Commonly used in Contemporary Classical, Film Scores, Experimental. Notable players include Olivier Messiaen. Use for avant-garde composition and film scoring where traditional tonal direction should dissolve.
Notes: D, Eb, E, G, G#, A, Bb, C#
Intervals: 1P, 2m, 2M, 4P, 4A, 5P, 6m, 7M
Degrees: 1 b2 3 4 #5 6 b7 8
Formula: H-H-WH-H-H-H-WH-H
Number of notes: 8
Tuning: Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
Explore This Scale in Other Tunings
- D Messiaen's Mode #4 in Standard Tuning
- D Messiaen's Mode #4 in Drop D
- D Messiaen's Mode #4 in DADGAD
- D Messiaen's Mode #4 in Open G
- D Messiaen's Mode #4 in Baritone (B Standard)
- D Messiaen's Mode #4 in 7-string
- D Messiaen's Mode #4 in 8-string
- D Messiaen's Mode #4 in Drop C
- D Messiaen's Mode #4 in Open D
- D Messiaen's Mode #4 in Half Step Down
- D Messiaen's Mode #4 in Open E
- D Messiaen's Mode #4 in Open A
- D Messiaen's Mode #4 in Double Drop D
- D Messiaen's Mode #4 in Open C