A　novel　idea　that　applies　the　multiple　scale　analysis　to　a　discretized　decoupled　system　of　gyroscopic　continua　is　introduced　and　an　axial　moving　string　is　treated　as　an　example.　First,　the　invariant　manifold　method　is　applied　to　the　discretized　ordinary　differential　equations　of　the　axially　moving　string.　Complex　gyroscopic　mode　functions　that　agree　well　with　true　analytical　results　are　obtained.　The　gyroscopic　modes　are　subsequently　used　for　the　discretized　ordinary　differential　equations　with　gyroscopic　and　nonlinear　coupling　terms　that　yield　a　gyroscopically　decoupled　system.　Further　the　method　of　multiple　scales　is　used　to　obtain　the　equations　at　a　slow　scale.　This　novel　procedure　is　compared　to　solutions　obtained　by　directly　applying　the　classical　multiple　scale　analysis　to　the　gyroscopically　coupled　system　without　decoupling.　The　modal　decoupled　system　analysis　yields　better　frequency　with　comparing　to　the　classic　method.　The　proposed　methodology　provides　a　novel　alternative　for　nonlinear　dynamic　analysis　of　gyroscopic　continua.　(C)　2017　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.