M.Ted "...all of the modes are really just part of a major scale..."

No they, are not! In fact that clause is analoguous to "A lorry / truck is an important part of a diesel engine!"

One has to look at it from a completely different point of view: the modes (Ionian = major, Aeolian = minor included) are groups of the natural notes (or white keys, so to say :-), rather than the major scale being somehow 'original' in this respect.


AKS