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Music scales chart

Major, minor and modal scales in all twelve keys — every note, the whole/half step pattern, the chords that come out of each scale, and playback on a real instrument sound.

Major scale

The reference scale of Western music. Its whole/half step pattern gives you the seven diatonic chords every pop progression is drawn from.

Pattern: W–W–H–W–W–W–H

C Major C# Major D Major D# Major E Major F Major F# Major G Major G# Major A Major A# Major B Major

Natural Minor scale

The relative minor of the major scale — same notes, different home. Darker and the default choice for minor-key songwriting.

Pattern: W–H–W–W–H–W–W

C Natural Minor C# Natural Minor D Natural Minor D# Natural Minor E Natural Minor F Natural Minor F# Natural Minor G Natural Minor G# Natural Minor A Natural Minor A# Natural Minor B Natural Minor

Harmonic Minor scale

Natural minor with a raised seventh, which creates a dominant V chord and that distinctive exotic leap up to the tonic.

Pattern: W–H–W–W–H–W+H–H

C Harmonic Minor C# Harmonic Minor D Harmonic Minor D# Harmonic Minor E Harmonic Minor F Harmonic Minor F# Harmonic Minor G Harmonic Minor G# Harmonic Minor A Harmonic Minor A# Harmonic Minor B Harmonic Minor

Melodic Minor scale

Natural minor with raised sixth and seventh, smoothing the climb to the tonic. Central to jazz improvisation.

Pattern: W–H–W–W–W–W–H

C Melodic Minor C# Melodic Minor D Melodic Minor D# Melodic Minor E Melodic Minor F Melodic Minor F# Melodic Minor G Melodic Minor G# Melodic Minor A Melodic Minor A# Melodic Minor B Melodic Minor

Dorian scale

Minor with a raised sixth. Slightly brighter than natural minor — heard in folk, funk grooves and modal jazz.

Pattern: W–H–W–W–W–H–W

C Dorian C# Dorian D Dorian D# Dorian E Dorian F Dorian F# Dorian G Dorian G# Dorian A Dorian A# Dorian B Dorian

Phrygian scale

Minor with a lowered second. That half-step opening gives it a Spanish and metal flavour.

Pattern: H–W–W–W–H–W–W

C Phrygian C# Phrygian D Phrygian D# Phrygian E Phrygian F Phrygian F# Phrygian G Phrygian G# Phrygian A Phrygian A# Phrygian B Phrygian

Lydian scale

Major with a raised fourth. Floating and cinematic, widely used in film scores and dream pop.

Pattern: W–W–W–H–W–W–H

C Lydian C# Lydian D Lydian D# Lydian E Lydian F Lydian F# Lydian G Lydian G# Lydian A Lydian A# Lydian B Lydian

Mixolydian scale

Major with a lowered seventh. The rock and blues mode — think dominant-flavoured riffs and modal vamps.

Pattern: W–W–H–W–W–H–W

C Mixolydian C# Mixolydian D Mixolydian D# Mixolydian E Mixolydian F Mixolydian F# Mixolydian G Mixolydian G# Mixolydian A Mixolydian A# Mixolydian B Mixolydian

Locrian scale

Lowered second and fifth make this the least stable mode. Mostly used as a colour over half-diminished chords.

Pattern: H–W–W–H–W–W–W

C Locrian C# Locrian D Locrian D# Locrian E Locrian F Locrian F# Locrian G Locrian G# Locrian A Locrian A# Locrian B Locrian

Looking for chords instead?

Browse the piano chords chart or try the chord progression generator.