C Messiaen's Mode #3 Guitar Scale
Guitar scale in 7-string tuning — fretboard diagram
C Messiaen's Mode #3 in 7-string — Notes and Intervals
The C Messiaen's Mode #3 scale is a complex nine-note symmetrical scale used by Olivier Messiaen. On Guitar, its notes are C, D, Eb, E, F#, G, Ab, Bb, B. It creates a cosmic, suspended tonality that feels both religious and scientific, evoking a sense of divine awe. Commonly used in Contemporary Classical, Film Scores, Ambient, Experimental. Notable players include Olivier Messiaen, Gyorgy Ligeti, Thomas Ades. Use for creating atmospheres of 'cosmic awe'. Not bound to traditional chord progressions — works best over sustained harmonies or ostinato patterns.
Notes: C, D, Eb, E, F#, G, Ab, Bb, B
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3m, 3M, 4A, 5P, 6m, 7m, 7M
Degrees: 1 2 b3 4 #5 6 b7 b8 9
Formula: W-H-H-W-H-H-W-H-H
Number of notes: 9
Tuning: 7-string (B-E-A-D-G-B-E)
About 7-string Tuning
The 7-string guitar adds a low B string below the standard 6-string tuning (B-E-A-D-G-B-E), extending the instrument's range into bass territory. This extra low end has become essential in progressive metal, djent, and modern heavy music, enabling crushing low-end riffs while maintaining access to standard guitar voicings on the upper strings.
Pioneered by jazz guitarist George Van Eps and later brought into the metal mainstream by Steve Vai and Korn, the 7-string guitar has become a staple of modern heavy music. Players like Tosin Abasi, Misha Mansoor, and John Petrucci have pushed the instrument's capabilities into new territory, using the extended range for complex harmonic progressions, polyrhythmic riffs, and sweeping arpeggios that span an enormous tonal range.
Notable artists: Dream Theater, Periphery, Animals as Leaders, Korn, Meshuggah
Best for: Progressive metal riffs, extended-range chord voicings, djent rhythms, and jazz fusion harmony
Musical Character
A 9-note scale with limited transposition — only 4 unique transpositions exist before repeating. Creates a cosmic, suspended tonality that is neither major nor minor but something transcendent.