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E messiaen's mode #5 Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, F, A, A#, B, D#, E at frets 0, 1, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12

A string: A, A#, B, D#, E, F, A at frets 0, 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 12

D string: D#, E, F, A, A#, B at frets 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9

G string: A, A#, B, D#, E, F at frets 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10

B string: B, D#, E, F, A, A#, B at frets 0, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12

High E string: E, F, A, A#, B, D#, E at frets 0, 1, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12

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E messiaen's mode #5

Messiaen's mode 5 is the smallest of Messiaen's modes: six notes in the pattern half step, major 3rd, half step, repeated, with the tritone as its axis of symmetry. It contains two chromatic clusters a tritone apart and nothing in between, more a sonority than a melody source. Composers use it for static, bell-like harmonic fields.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

E

I

F

bII

A

IV

A♯

#IV

B

V

D♯

VII

messiaen's mode #5 in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Six notes on E, two chromatic clusters a tritone apart: root, b2 (F), IV and their mirror #4 (A#), V, VII.
  • Treat it as harmony, not melody: sustain cluster voicings (root-b2 together, or IV-#4) for bell-like fields.
  • The tritone (root to #4 (A#)) is the axis: phrases that swap the two clusters across it sound composed rather than random.
  • Use long decay: let notes overlap on separate strings; struck as chords it shimmers, run as a scale it stumbles.

How to play E messiaen's mode #5 on guitar

Both E strings are open roots, with open B the fifth and open A the fourth, so first position drones without help. Fretted roots start at 2 on the D, 5 on the B, 7 on the A and 9 on the G. Box one lives in open position, which puts the second shape as low as fret 4. Same shape 6 semitones up reads as Bb.

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