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Music scales

The pentatonic and blues scales, harmonic and melodic minor and the modes, each on all twelve notes. See a scale on a piano, hear it, and play it over a beat in its key.

Scales and modes
Major and minor keysMajor pentatonic scaleMinor pentatonic scaleBlues scaleHarmonic minor scaleMelodic minor scaleDorian modePhrygian modeLydian modeMixolydian modeLocrian modePhrygian dominant scaleWhole tone scale

Every scale and mode

Each formula counts from the major scale on the same note: ♭3 is a half step below the major scale’s third.

Every scale and mode, its formula and how it sounds
ScaleFormula
Major scale1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Natural minor scale1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7
Major pentatonic scale1 2 3 5 6
Minor pentatonic scale1 ♭3 4 5 ♭7
Blues scale1 ♭3 4 ♭5 5 ♭7
Harmonic minor scale1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7
Melodic minor scale1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 7
Dorian mode1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7
Phrygian mode1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7
Lydian mode1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7
Mixolydian mode1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7
Locrian mode1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7
Phrygian dominant scale1 ♭2 3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7
Whole tone scale1 2 3 ♯4 ♯5 ♯6
A minor pentatonicE minor pentatonicC major pentatonicG major pentatonicA bluesE bluesA harmonic minorE harmonic minorA melodic minorD dorianE phrygianF lydianG mixolydianB locrianE phrygian dominant

Open any scale in the chart to find it on every note.

Questions about scales

What is a scale in music?

A set of notes in order from a home note, the root, up to the same note an octave higher. The notes a melody uses, and the chords under it, mostly come from one scale, which is why a song in A minor pentatonic sounds different from one in A major.

What are the most common scales?

The major and natural minor scales, which most songs are written in, then the major and minor pentatonic scales, the blues scale and the harmonic minor. The modes (dorian, phrygian, lydian, mixolydian, locrian) are the major scale played from other notes.

What is the difference between a scale and a mode?

A mode is a scale made by playing another scale from a different note. D dorian is the C major scale from D: the same seven notes, but with D as home, which changes how every one of them sounds.

Which scale should I use for a beat or a melody?

Start with the key your chords are in. Over minor chords the minor pentatonic almost never sounds wrong; add the blue note for grit, or move to harmonic minor for a darker, more dramatic line. Over major chords the major pentatonic is the safe start.

Play a scale over your own beat

Start a beat in A minor in the free editor, then add a melody on any scale here as its own part.

Make a beat in A minorMusic keys

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