Scales

Major

The major scale and its modes are the most commonly used scales in western music.

• Ionian
• Dorian
• Phrygian
• Lydian
• Mixolydian
• Aeolian
• Locrian

Melodic Minor

The melodic minor scale is similar to the major scale with only one difference - it uses a minor third instead of a major third.

• Melodic Minor
• Phrygian #6
• Lydian Augmented
• Lydian Dominant
• Mixolydian b6
• Locrian #2
• Super Locrian

Whole Tone

The whole tone scale is in open, suspended harmony and works well with #5 chords.

Pentatonic

The major pentatonic scale leaves the 4th and 7th out of the major scale, so it has no half steps and no avoid notes; it is the sound of the black keys on the piano.

Blues

The blues scale is used pervasively in jazz, and works especially well over the most common progression in jazz, the blues. Its major form adds a b3 to the major pentatonic scale; started from the 6th it becomes the minor blues scale, the minor pentatonic with an added b5.

• Major Blues
• Minor Blues

Diminished

The diminished scale alternates whole steps and half steps to produce a symmetric scale with some interesting attributes.

• Half-Whole
• Whole-Half

Harmonic Minor

The harmonic minor scale raises the 7th of the natural minor scale. Jazz players use it over a minor tonic, and its 5th mode, Phrygian Dominant, is the classic sound of the V7b9 in a minor key.

• Harmonic Minor
• Locrian #6
• Ionian #5
• Dorian #4
• Phrygian Dominant
• Lydian #2
• Altered Diminished

Dominant Bebop

The dominant bebop scale adds a major 7th passing tone to the Mixolydian mode, so that a run of eighth notes starting on a chord tone lands on chord tones on every beat.

Major Bebop

The major bebop scale adds a #5 passing tone to the major scale, so that a run of eighth notes starting on a chord tone lands on the notes of a major 6th chord on every beat.