We know that the Ionian scale is whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half (WWHWWWH). So piggybacking off of jonesl78, you have the C Ionian to begin with. Dealing with the modes I've discovered (though it may have always been known) that reversing the ionian mode would help me unlock the modal puzzle. For example, C Ionian (WWHWWWH) is C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C. Reversing the Ionian mode (WWHWWWH) would result in C, Bb, Ab, G, F, Eb, Db, C. If I want to know what a C dorian is I would play a Bb scale beginning with the C as my tonic. If I want to play a C phrygian I would play an Ab scale beginning with the C as my tonic. C lydian would be a G scale, C mixolydian would be an F scale, C aeolian would be an Eb scale, and C locrian woild be a Db scale beginning with the C as the tonic. There's more if we can keep this going.
This post was REALLY confusing. But, I figured out why.
You said 'reversing' the pattern of whole and half-steps. To
ME, that means (HWWWHWW) which would mean, in C (C,B,A,G,F,E,D,C)
BUT, what you're REALLY saying is to play the pattern while DESCENDING a scale.
For example in F:
F, Eb, Db, C, Bb, Ab, Gb, F
Is that correct?