C Messiaen's Mode #4 Ukulele Scale
Ukulele scale — fretboard diagram
C Messiaen's Mode #4 Scale — Notes and Intervals
The C Messiaen's Mode #4 scale is a symmetrical scale designed to have no single tonic. On Ukulele, the notes are C, Db, D, F, F#, G, Ab, B. 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: C, Db, D, F, F#, G, Ab, B
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
How to Play C Messiaen's Mode #4 on Ukulele
On ukulele, find C on the open strings or work through the scale within a four-fret span. You may need to shift positions once to cover all 8 notes. Practice each position separately before linking them together.
The C Messiaen's Mode #4 scale contains both sharps and flats (1 sharp, 2 flats), which is common in altered and exotic scales. This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.
Practice Routine
Set a metronome to 80 BPM and play the C Messiaen's Mode #4 scale in groups of four notes, shifting the starting note each repetition. This builds muscle memory across the entire scale range. After a week, try improvising short 4-bar phrases using only these notes.
Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on C to let the characteristic intervals of the Messiaen's Mode #4 scale come through clearly.
Ukulele Tips
On ukulele, the C Messiaen's Mode #4 scale sounds particularly charming when played as a melodic pattern over fingerpicked chord shapes. Try integrating scale tones into your strumming patterns for a more sophisticated sound.
The C Messiaen's Mode #4 scale contains 8 notes (C, Db, D, F, F#, G, Ab, B). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Ukulele with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for C Messiaen's Mode #4
The C Messiaen's Mode #4 scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 8-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.
Explore C Messiaen's Mode #4 Further
- Harmonize the C Messiaen's Mode #4 scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- C Messiaen's Mode #4 on Guitar
- C Messiaen's Mode #4 on Bass
- C Messiaen's Mode #4 on Piano