Which mode has half steps between 1-2 and 5-6 and starts on the third degree of the major scale (for example, white keys from E to E)?

Which mode has half steps between 1-2 and 5-6 and starts on the third degree of the major scale (for example, white keys from E to E)?

• A. Dorian mode
• B. Phrygian mode
• C. Lydian mode
• D. Locrian mode

Answer: (B)

This is about identifying a mode by its starting degree and its interval pattern. Starting on the third degree of a major scale yields a mode whose defining feature is a half step between the first and second degrees and another half step between the fifth and sixth degrees. If you take the C major scale and start on its third degree, you get E F G A B C D E. That collection of notes is the same pitch set as C major, just starting on E, so it demonstrates the mode that begins on the third degree. The sequence of steps is E–F (half), F–G (whole), G–A (whole), A–B (whole), B–C (half), C–D (whole), D–E (whole). This exactly matches the pattern for Phrygian. So, the mode described is Phrygian.

This is about identifying a mode by its starting degree and its interval pattern. Starting on the third degree of a major scale yields a mode whose defining feature is a half step between the first and second degrees and another half step between the fifth and sixth degrees.

If you take the C major scale and start on its third degree, you get E F G A B C D E. That collection of notes is the same pitch set as C major, just starting on E, so it demonstrates the mode that begins on the third degree. The sequence of steps is E–F (half), F–G (whole), G–A (whole), A–B (whole), B–C (half), C–D (whole), D–E (whole). This exactly matches the pattern for Phrygian.

So, the mode described is Phrygian.