Olivier Messiaen's Seven Modes of Limited Transposition

French composer Olivier Messiaen defined the “modes of limited transposition” in his book Technique de mon langage musical (The Technique of my Musical Language).

What makes them special is their symmetry. The intervals repeat inside the octave, so the same set of notes comes back under more than one root, and the scale sounds identical in several keys.

The whole tone scale is the clearest case. Six notes, all a whole step apart, and only two distinct versions exist: start on any of the twelve notes and you land on one of those two.

There are seven of these modes.

• M1 — the whole tone scale
• M2 — the (dominant) diminished scale
• M3 — the ‘Tcherepnin’ scale
• M4, M5, M6, M7 — no common names; the panels below show what each one is

M2, the dominant diminished scale, is the symmetric route to the same dominant tension that Fretly’s Jazz Scales family reaches by adding a single chromatic passing note instead.

Nelson Veras played these at a clinic at the Conservatory of Amsterdam. Four clips worth your time: mode 3, toying with a mode, looking for voicings and practising M4 and M6.

Scale 1 of 7Olivier Messiaen's Seven Modes of Limited Transposition

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No 1 Messiaen Mode 1: The Whole Tone Scale

Mode label: M1 1 - 2 - 3 - #4 - #5 - b7

Structure: W - W - W - W - W - W

Transpositions: 2

Modes

A mode is this same set of notes heard from a different starting note. Pick one to see it on the circle.

1. 1 C Messiaen Mode 1: The Whole Tone Scale 1 - 2 - 3 - #4 - #5 - b7

This scale has very limited transposition symmetry: every rotation produces an identical pitch-class set to the scale itself, so it has no distinct modes to list.

Explore the C Whole Tone (Messiaen M1) scale in Fretly

Backing tracks

Jam this scale over these. They open on the track page.

• C7#5
• D7#5
• E7#5
• F#7#5
• G#7#5
• Bb7#5

Triads

C+C, E, G# D+D, F#, A# E+E, G#, C F#+F#, A#, D G#+G#, C, E Bb+Bb, D, F#

Seventh chords

C7#5C, E, G#, Bb C7b5C, E, Gb, Bb D7#5D, F#, A#, C D7b5D, F#, Ab, C E7#5E, G#, C, D E7b5E, G#, Bb, D F#7#5F#, A#, D, E F#7b5F#, A#, C, E G#7#5G#, C, E, F# G#7b5G#, C, D, F# Bb7#5Bb, D, F#, Ab Bb7b5Bb, D, E, Ab

This scale holds many more chords than these, with extensions, inversions and every voicing on the neck. Find them all in Fretly

No 2 Messiaen Mode 2 - The Dominant Diminished Scale

Mode label: M2 1 - b2 - b3 - 3 - #4 - 5 - 6 - b7

Structure: H - W - H - W - H - W - H - W

Transpositions: 3

Modes

A mode is this same set of notes heard from a different starting note. Pick one to see it on the circle.

1. 1 C Messiaen Mode 2 - The Dominant Diminished Scale 1 - b2 - b3 - 3 - #4 - 5 - 6 - b7
2. 2 Db Rotation 2 1 - 2 - b3 - 4 - #4 - #5 - 6 - 7
3. 4 E Rotation 4 1 - 2 - b3 - 4 - #4 - #5 - 6 - 7
4. 6 G Rotation 6 1 - 2 - b3 - 4 - #4 - #5 - 6 - 7
5. 8 Bb Rotation 8 1 - 2 - b3 - 4 - #4 - #5 - 6 - 7

Degrees 3, 5, 7 are omitted: their rotations are identical in pitch-class content to the scale itself (a mode of limited transposition), not a distinct new mode.

Explore the C Dominant Diminished (Messiaen M2) scale in Fretly

Backing tracks

Jam this scale over these. They open on the track page.

• Cm7
• Ebm7
• Gbm7
• Am7

Triads

CC, E, G CmC, Eb, G CdimC, Eb, Gb DbdimDb, E, G EbEb, G, Bb EbmEb, Gb, Bb EbdimEb, Gb, A EdimE, G, Bb GbGb, Bb, Db GbmGb, A, Db GbdimGb, A, C GdimG, Bb, Db AA, C#, E AmA, C, E AdimA, C, Eb BbdimBb, Db, E

Seventh chords

C7C, E, G, Bb Cm7C, Eb, G, Bb Cm7b5C, Eb, Gb, Bb Cdim7C, Eb, Gb, A C7b5C, E, Gb, Bb C6C, E, G, A Cm6C, Eb, G, A Dbdim7Db, E, G, Bb Eb7Eb, G, Bb, Db Ebm7Eb, Gb, Bb, Db Ebm7b5Eb, Gb, A, Db Ebdim7Eb, Gb, A, C Eb7b5Eb, G, A, Db Eb6Eb, G, Bb, C Ebm6Eb, Gb, Bb, C Edim7E, G, Bb, Db Gb7Gb, Bb, Db, E Gbm7Gb, A, Db, E

14 more

This scale holds many more chords than these, with extensions, inversions and every voicing on the neck. Find them all in Fretly

No 3 Messiaen Mode 3 - The Tcherepnin Scale

Mode label: M3 1 - 2 - b3 - 3 - #4 - 5 - b6 - b7 - 7

Structure: W - H - H - W - H - H - W - H - H

Transpositions: 4

Modes

A mode is this same set of notes heard from a different starting note. Pick one to see it on the circle.

1. 1 C Messiaen Mode 3 - The Tcherepnin Scale 1 - 2 - b3 - 3 - #4 - 5 - b6 - b7 - 7
2. 2 D Rotation 2 1 - b2 - 2 - 3 - 4 - #4 - #5 - 6 - b7
3. 3 Eb Rotation 3 1 - b2 - b3 - 3 - 4 - 5 - b6 - 6 - 7
4. 5 F# Rotation 5 1 - b2 - 2 - 3 - 4 - #4 - #5 - 6 - b7
5. 6 G Rotation 6 1 - b2 - b3 - 3 - 4 - 5 - b6 - 6 - 7
6. 8 Bb Rotation 8 1 - b2 - 2 - 3 - 4 - #4 - #5 - 6 - b7
7. 9 B Rotation 9 1 - b2 - b3 - 3 - 4 - 5 - b6 - 6 - 7

Degrees 4, 7 are omitted: their rotations are identical in pitch-class content to the scale itself (a mode of limited transposition), not a distinct new mode.

Explore the C Tcherepnin (Messiaen M3) scale in Fretly

Backing tracks

Jam this scale over these. They open on the track page.

• Cmaj7
• D7#5
• Ebmaj7
• Emaj7
• Gb7#5
• Gmaj7

Triads

CC, E, G CmC, Eb, G CdimC, Eb, Gb C+C, E, G# Csus2C, D, G D+D, F#, A# EbEb, G, Bb EbmEb, Gb, Bb Eb+Eb, G, B Ebsus4Eb, Ab, Bb EE, G#, B EmE, G, B EdimE, G, Bb E+E, G#, C Esus2E, F#, B Gb+Gb, Bb, D GG, B, D GmG, Bb, D

12 more

Seventh chords

Cmaj7C, E, G, B C7C, E, G, Bb Cm7C, Eb, G, Bb Cm7b5C, Eb, Gb, Bb CmMaj7C, Eb, G, B C7#5C, E, G#, Bb Cmaj7#5C, E, G#, B C7b5C, E, Gb, Bb Cmaj7b5C, E, Gb, B D7#5D, F#, A#, C D7b5D, F#, Ab, C Ebmaj7Eb, G, Bb, D EbmMaj7Eb, Gb, Bb, D Ebmaj7#5Eb, G, B, D Eb6Eb, G, Bb, C Ebm6Eb, Gb, Bb, C Ebmaj7sus4Eb, Ab, Bb, D Emaj7E, G#, B, D#

33 more

This scale holds many more chords than these, with extensions, inversions and every voicing on the neck. Find them all in Fretly

No 4 Messiaen Mode 4

Mode label: M4 1 - b2 - 2 - 4 - #4 - 5 - b6 - 7

Structure: H - H - m3 - H - H - H - m3 - H

Transpositions: 6

Modes

A mode is this same set of notes heard from a different starting note. Pick one to see it on the circle.

1. 1 C Messiaen Mode 4 1 - b2 - 2 - 4 - #4 - 5 - b6 - 7
2. 2 Db Rotation 2 1 - b2 - 3 - 4 - #4 - 5 - b7 - 7
3. 3 D Rotation 3 1 - b3 - 3 - 4 - b5 - 6 - b7 - 7
4. 4 F Rotation 4 1 - b2 - 2 - b3 - #4 - 5 - b6 - 6
5. 6 G Rotation 6 1 - b2 - 3 - 4 - #4 - 5 - b7 - 7
6. 7 Ab Rotation 7 1 - b3 - 3 - 4 - b5 - 6 - b7 - 7
7. 8 B Rotation 8 1 - b2 - 2 - b3 - #4 - 5 - b6 - 6

Degree 5 is omitted: its rotation is identical in pitch-class content to the scale itself (a mode of limited transposition), not a distinct new mode.

Explore the C Messiaen Mode 4 scale in Fretly

Backing tracks

Jam this scale over these. They open on the track page.

• Dbmaj7
• Dm7b5
• Fm
• Gmaj7
• Abm7b5
• Bm

Triads

Csus2C, D, G Csus4C, F, G DbDb, F, Ab Dbsus4Db, Gb, Ab DdimD, F, Ab FmF, Ab, C FdimF, Ab, B Fsus2F, G, C Gbsus2Gb, Ab, Db Gbsus4Gb, B, Db GG, B, D Gsus4G, C, D AbdimAb, B, D BmB, D, F# BdimB, D, F Bsus2B, C#, F#

Seventh chords

Cmaj7sus4C, F, G, B Dbmaj7Db, F, Ab, C Db7Db, F, Ab, B Db7b5Db, F, G, B Dbmaj7b5Db, F, G, C Db7sus4Db, Gb, Ab, B Dbmaj7sus4Db, Gb, Ab, C Dm7b5D, F, Ab, C Ddim7D, F, Ab, B D7b5D, F#, Ab, C Dmaj7b5D, F#, Ab, C# Fdim7F, Ab, B, D Fm6F, Ab, C, D Gbmaj7sus4Gb, B, Db, F Gmaj7G, B, D, F# G7G, B, D, F G7b5G, B, Db, F Gmaj7b5G, B, Db, F#

8 more

This scale holds many more chords than these, with extensions, inversions and every voicing on the neck. Find them all in Fretly

No 5 Messiaen Mode 5

Mode label: M5 1 - b2 - 4 - #4 - 5 - 7

Structure: H - M3 - H - H - M3 - H

Transpositions: 6

Modes

A mode is this same set of notes heard from a different starting note. Pick one to see it on the circle.

1. 1 C Messiaen Mode 5 1 - b2 - 4 - #4 - 5 - 7
2. 2 Db Rotation 2 1 - 3 - 4 - b5 - b7 - 7
3. 3 F Rotation 3 1 - b2 - 2 - #4 - 5 - b6
4. 5 G Rotation 5 1 - 3 - 4 - b5 - b7 - 7
5. 6 B Rotation 6 1 - b2 - 2 - #4 - 5 - b6

Degree 4 is omitted: its rotation is identical in pitch-class content to the scale itself (a mode of limited transposition), not a distinct new mode.

Explore the C Messiaen Mode 5 scale in Fretly

Triads

Csus4C, F, G Fsus2F, G, C Gbsus4Gb, B, Db Bsus2B, C#, F#

Seventh chords

Cmaj7sus4C, F, G, B Db7b5Db, F, G, B Dbmaj7b5Db, F, G, C Gbmaj7sus4Gb, B, Db, F G7b5G, B, Db, F Gmaj7b5G, B, Db, F#

This scale holds many more chords than these, with extensions, inversions and every voicing on the neck. Find them all in Fretly

No 6 Messiaen Mode 6

Mode label: M6 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - #4 - #5 - b7 - 7

Structure: W - W - H - H - W W - H - H

Transpositions: 6

Modes

A mode is this same set of notes heard from a different starting note. Pick one to see it on the circle.

1. 1 C Messiaen Mode 6 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - #4 - #5 - b7 - 7
2. 2 D Rotation 2 1 - 2 - b3 - 3 - #4 - #5 - 6 - b7
3. 3 E Rotation 3 1 - b2 - 2 - 3 - #4 - 5 - b6 - b7
4. 4 F Rotation 4 1 - b2 - b3 - 4 - #4 - 5 - 6 - 7
5. 6 G# Rotation 6 1 - 2 - b3 - 3 - #4 - #5 - 6 - b7
6. 7 Bb Rotation 7 1 - b2 - 2 - 3 - #4 - 5 - b6 - b7
7. 8 B Rotation 8 1 - b2 - b3 - 4 - #4 - 5 - 6 - 7

Degree 5 is omitted: its rotation is identical in pitch-class content to the scale itself (a mode of limited transposition), not a distinct new mode.

Explore the C Messiaen Mode 6 scale in Fretly

Backing tracks

Jam this scale over these. They open on the track page.

• Cmaj7#5
• Dm7b5
• E7
• FmMaj7
• Gbmaj7#5
• Abm7b5

Triads

C+C, E, G# DdimD, F, Ab D+D, F#, A# EE, G#, B E+E, G#, C Esus2E, F#, B FmF, Ab, C FdimF, Ab, B Fsus4F, Bb, C Gb+Gb, Bb, D AbdimAb, B, D Ab+Ab, C, E BbBb, D, F Bb+Bb, D, F# Bbsus2Bb, C, F BmB, D, F# BdimB, D, F Bsus4B, E, F#

Seventh chords

C7#5C, E, G#, Bb Cmaj7#5C, E, G#, B C7b5C, E, Gb, Bb Cmaj7b5C, E, Gb, B Dm7b5D, F, Ab, C Ddim7D, F, Ab, B D7#5D, F#, A#, C D7b5D, F#, Ab, C E7E, G#, B, D E7#5E, G#, C, D E7b5E, G#, Bb, D Fdim7F, Ab, B, D FmMaj7F, Ab, C, E Fm6F, Ab, C, D Fmaj7sus4F, Bb, C, E Gb7#5Gb, Bb, D, E Gbmaj7#5Gb, Bb, D, F Gb7b5Gb, Bb, C, E

12 more

This scale holds many more chords than these, with extensions, inversions and every voicing on the neck. Find them all in Fretly

No 7 Messiaen Mode 7

Mode label: M7 1 - b2 - 2 - b3 - 4 - #4 - 5 - b6 - 6 - 7

Structure: H - H - H - W - H - H - H - W - H

Transpositions: 6

Modes

A mode is this same set of notes heard from a different starting note. Pick one to see it on the circle.

1. 1 C Messiaen Mode 7 1 - b2 - 2 - b3 - 4 - #4 - 5 - b6 - 6 - 7
2. 2 Db Rotation 2 1 - b2 - 2 - 3 - 4 - #4 - 5 - b6 - b7 - 7
3. 3 D Rotation 3 1 - b2 - b3 - 3 - 4 - #4 - 5 - 6 - b7 - 7
4. 4 Eb Rotation 4 1 - 2 - b3 - 3 - 4 - #4 - #5 - 6 - b7 - 7
5. 5 F Rotation 5 1 - b2 - 2 - b3 - 3 - #4 - 5 - b6 - 6 - b7
6. 7 G Rotation 7 1 - b2 - 2 - 3 - 4 - #4 - 5 - b6 - b7 - 7
7. 8 Ab Rotation 8 1 - b2 - b3 - 3 - 4 - #4 - 5 - 6 - b7 - 7
8. 9 A Rotation 9 1 - 2 - b3 - 3 - 4 - #4 - #5 - 6 - b7 - 7
9. 10 B Rotation 10 1 - b2 - 2 - b3 - 3 - #4 - 5 - b6 - 6 - b7

Degree 6 is omitted: its rotation is identical in pitch-class content to the scale itself (a mode of limited transposition), not a distinct new mode.

Explore the C Messiaen Mode 7 scale in Fretly

Backing tracks

Jam this scale over these. They open on the track page.

• CmMaj7
• Dbmaj7
• Dmaj7
• Ebm7b5
• Fm7
• GbmMaj7

Triads

CmC, Eb, G CdimC, Eb, Gb Csus2C, D, G Csus4C, F, G DbDb, F, Ab Db+Db, F, A Dbsus2Db, Eb, Ab Dbsus4Db, Gb, Ab DD, F#, A DmD, F, A DdimD, F, Ab Dsus4D, G, A EbdimEb, Gb, A Eb+Eb, G, B FF, A, C FmF, Ab, C FdimF, Ab, B F+F, A, C#

20 more

Seventh chords

Cdim7C, Eb, Gb, A CmMaj7C, Eb, G, B Cm6C, Eb, G, A Cmaj7sus4C, F, G, B Dbmaj7Db, F, Ab, C Db7Db, F, Ab, B Db7#5Db, F, A, B Dbmaj7#5Db, F, A, C Db7b5Db, F, G, B Dbmaj7b5Db, F, G, C Db7sus4Db, Gb, Ab, B Dbmaj7sus4Db, Gb, Ab, C Dmaj7D, F#, A, C# D7D, F#, A, C Dm7D, F, A, C Dm7b5D, F, Ab, C Ddim7D, F, Ab, B DmMaj7D, F, A, C#

58 more

This scale holds many more chords than these, with extensions, inversions and every voicing on the neck. Find them all in Fretly