Gregorian chant and certain other folk songs in Western music use scales called ______ modes.Multiple choice question.majorchurchminorpentatonic

Break Down the Problem

1. Identify the context of the question: It involves music scales related to Gregorian chant and folk songs.
2. Understand the terms: modes, Gregorian chant, and the types of scales provided in the options.

Relevant Concepts

1. Modes in music: Modes are scales formed by following a specific pattern of whole and half steps.
2. Gregorian Chant: These are typically based on a specific set of modes known as the church modes, which are essentially derived from the diatonic scales.

Analysis and Detail

1. Church Modes: The church modes are seven different scales derived from the basic diatonic scale. They include:
   • Dorian
   • Phrygian
   • Lydian
   • Mixolydian
   • Aeolian (natural minor)
   • Ionian (major)
   • Locrian
2. Options Analysis:
   • Major: Refers to the Ionian mode, commonly used in Western music but not specific to folk or Gregorian chant.
   • Church: Refers directly to the church modes, which are indeed the scales used in Gregorian chant.
   • Minor: Refers to the Aeolian mode; while it can relate, it is not specific to the modes used in Gregorian chants.
   • Pentatonic: This scale consists of five notes but is not typically related to Gregorian chants.

Verify and Summarize

After analyzing the options, it is clear that the term most appropriate for describing the scales used in Gregorian chant is "church modes".

Final Answer

Church