In music theory does modes like the Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, etc.... also applies to other scales?

Question

In music theory does modes like the Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, etc.... also applies to other scales like the pentatonic or the blues or any other? I have a hint that it only applies to major scales since its consideration are the no. of intervals between tones. not sure though, if anybody has any idea i would be glad. thanks.

Answer 1

As you suggest, modes refers to the arrangement of whole steps and half steps between the tones of a scale as you move up or down within an octave. Major (which is also called Ionian) and Minor (natural minor = Aeolian) are just two of the modes. Other arrangements show up in some folk music (Dorian and Mixolydian are used a lot) and in religious chant in many different traditions. Each of the names you list identifies a specific arrangement of the scale tones in 7-note scales. These names would not be used with pentatonic or other scales with different numbers of tones.
Blues scales might be termed modes if the scale tones are consistent, but usually the blues notes are not used consistently throughout a piece, but just for color. Almost always, they use a 7-note scale as the basis.

Pentatonic scales (scales with only five tones in them) can be arranged in different ways so the concept of "mode" could be applied to those various permutations. Try these examples: play pentatonic scales just on the black keys of the piano. Start first with C# and go up to A# above. That's one way.
Next, start on D# and go up to C#. That's two.
Then start on F# and go up to the D# above. That's three. You can, of course make up other five note pentatonic scales as well.
However, I don't know of any assigned names for these various arrangements, though there could well be some in the languages of cultures where these scales are used regularly. Chinese (and other Asian musics) and some European folk music (Gaelic) come to mind.
Indian music has the concept of the "Raga", a consistent arrangement of scale tones. In it, the ascending and descending scales may be different (like the Western harmonic and melodic minor scales), but they are consistent. The Ragas also may includes microtones (scale degrees less than a half step), so there are many possibilities here. Each Raga has a name and associations with particular feelings.
You can search for much more information on each of these topics.