Scale Finder: Music Scales and Modes
Choose the root and the type of scale and see the notes spelled correctly for the key (F major has B♭, not A♯), the formula in whole and half steps, the degrees and where to play each note on the piano, on the staff and on the fretboard. The Play button runs the scale up and down at the tempo you choose.
How to use it
- Tap the root and choose the scale: major, minor, pentatonic, blues, modes or symmetric scales.
- Read the notes, the degrees (1, ♭3, 5…) and the formula: W is a whole step, H is a half step and W+H is a step and a half.
- On the Fretboard, choose the instrument and a pattern; Whole neck shows every fret.
- Play scale runs up and down at the chosen tempo; with a pattern selected, Play pattern goes through its notes. Any key, fret or staff note plays on its own when you tap it.
- Copy link saves the scale, the instrument and the pattern so you can send them to a student or to your band.
Help and explanations
On guitar and electric guitar, the pentatonic scales appear in the 5 traditional box patterns and the seven-note scales in three-notes-per-string patterns.
Formulas of the most used scales
Major: W W H W W W H. Natural minor: W H W W H W W, the same sequence starting on the 6th degree of the major; that is why A minor is the relative minor of C major. Harmonic minor raises the 7th degree (G♯ in A minor) and melodic minor raises the 6th as well.
The major pentatonic is 1 2 3 5 6 and the minor pentatonic is 1 ♭3 4 5 ♭7. The blues scale is the minor pentatonic plus the ♭5, the blue note.
The 7 modes of the major scale
Each mode starts on a degree of the major scale: Ionian (1st), Dorian (2nd), Phrygian (3rd), Lydian (4th), Mixolydian (5th), Aeolian (6th, the natural minor) and Locrian (7th). D Dorian has the notes of C major centered on D. Compared with the major scale on the same root, Dorian has ♭3 and ♭7, Lydian has ♯4 and Mixolydian has ♭7.
The 5 pentatonic patterns on guitar
With two notes per string, the pentatonic scale fits into 5 patterns that connect along the neck. Here pattern 1 starts on the root on the 6th string: in A minor it sits at the 5th fret, pattern 2 at the 8th, pattern 3 at the 10th, pattern 4 at the 12th (or open) and pattern 5 at the 3rd. Learn one at a time and link neighboring patterns through the notes they share.
Tips
- Over a minor chord, start with the minor pentatonic on the same root; over a major chord, try the major pentatonic, which has the same notes as its relative minor (C major pentatonic = A minor pentatonic).
- Practice slowly: 60 BPM with one note per beat, then 90 and 120. The tempo is saved.
- Sing along with the scale and check your pitch with the voice tuner; key signatures, relative keys and the chords of each key are on the circle of fifths.
- E♯ and B♯ are not mistakes: in F♯ major the 7th note is E♯ because each letter appears only once.
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the A minor pentatonic scale?
A, C, D, E and G, the same notes as the C major pentatonic. On guitar, pattern 1 sits at the 5th fret.
What is the formula for the major scale?
Whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half (W W H W W W H), starting on any note.
What is the difference between natural, harmonic and melodic minor?
Natural minor is 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7. Harmonic minor raises the 7th (1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7) and melodic minor raises the 6th and the 7th (1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 7); in classical music, melodic minor comes down like the natural minor.
How many pentatonic patterns are there?
Five, one starting on each note, with two notes per string. Together they cover the neck and repeat from the 12th fret.
What are the notes of the blues scale?
In A: A, C, D, E♭, E and G (1 ♭3 4 ♭5 5 ♭7). The C major blues scale has C, D, E♭, E, G and A.
How do I find the relative minor of a major scale?
It is the 6th degree, three half steps below the root: the relative minor of C major is A minor; of G major, E minor. Both share the same key signature.
Why does F major have B flat and not A sharp?
Because each letter appears once in the scale: F G A B♭ C D E. With A♯ there would be two A's and no B.