Ref: Common Scales
Contents
Major
The major scale is defined by the whole whole half whole whole whole half (w w h w w w h) pattern of the distribution of its notes across one octave. It has a strong tonality pulling towards the tonic note.
C Major e------------------------ b-------------------0--1- g-------------0--2------- d----0--2--3------------- a-3---------------------- e------------------------
Natural Minor
Natural minor is a relative of the major scale (the Aeolian mode), consisting of the same notes but using a different note as the tonic. Its whole-half pattern is (w h w w h w w). Its relative major's tonic note is the 3rd note of the scale. Reflexively, its tonic note is the 6th note of its relative major scale.
A Natural Minor e------------------------ b------------------------ g-------------------0--2- d----------0--2--3------- a-0--2--3---------------- e------------------------
Harmonic Minor
Harmonic minor is a natural minor scale with a sharped 7th note. This makes the 7th note the leading tone, giving stronger tonality to the scale. In particular, it gives stronger tension to the Dominant (V) chord to resolve to the Tonic (i). Its whole-half pattern is (w h w w h w+h h)
A Harmonic Minor e------------------------ b------------------------ g-------------------1--2- d----------0--2--3------- a-0--2--3---------------- e------------------------
Melodic Minor
Melodic minor has different patterns when ascending vs. descending. Descending it is identical to the natural minor scale; however, ascending it is the natural minor scale with sharped 6th (M6) and 7th (M7) notes. This gives the ascending scale a whole-half pattern of (w h w w w w h), which contains the leading tone but no 1.5 steps like in the harmonic minor scale.
A Melodic Minor e---------------------------------------------- b---------------------------------------------- g-------------------1--2--0-------------------- d----------0--2--4-----------3--2--0----------- a-0--2--3-----------------------------3--2--0-- e----------------------------------------------
Major Pentatonic
The major pentatonic scale is the same as the major scale, but without the 4th or 7th notes. This drops all half steps from the whole-half pattern of the scale - (w w w+h w w+h). We also lose the leading tone. This reduces the tonality of the scale.
C Major Pentatonic e------------------ b----------------1- g----------0--2---- d----0--2---------- a-3---------------- e------------------
Minor Pentatonic
The minor pentatonic scale is the same as the natural minor scale, but without the 2nd or 6th notes. This drops all half steps from the whole-half pattern of the scale - (w+h w w w+h w). This reduces the tonality of the scale.
A Minor Pentatonic e------------------ b------------------ g-------------0--2- d-------0--2------- a-0--3------------- e------------------
Blues Scale
The blues scale is the same as the minor pentatonic scale, plus the augmented 4th or diminished 5th. It is derived from using the blue notes (notes a half-step below) on the 3rd, 5th, and 7th of the major scale. While it takes a distinctly minor appearance, the m3 and m7 are often bent up to near the M3 and M7. Most blues songs are set against a major key. Its whole-half pattern is (w+h w h h w+h w).
A Blues e--------------------- b--------------------- g----------------0--2- d-------0--1--2------- a-0--3---------------- e---------------------
Chromatic
The chromatic scale consists of every note in the 12-tone scale, with its whole-half pattern consisting entirely of half steps. It has no tonality - every note in the scale has as much tension as any other note.
A Chromatic e------------------------------------ b------------------------------------ g----------------------------0--1--2- d----------------0--1--3--4---------- a-0--1--2--3--4---------------------- e------------------------------------
Whole Tone or Hexatonic
The whole tone scale consists completely of whole steps, reaching the tonic in 6 notes. All diatonic triads are augmented triads. It has no tonality - every note in the scale has as much tension as any other note.
A Whole Tone e--------------------- b--------------------- g----------------0--2- d----------1--3------- a-0--2--4------------- e---------------------
Whole-Half
An 8 note diminished scale that uses a repeating sequence of whole and half steps to reach the octave. (w h w h w h w h). Contains the fully diminished 7th chord. Because the scale repeats its sequence every 2 notes, it has a very weak tonality.
A Whole-Half e---------------------------- b---------------------------- g----------------------1--2-- d----------0--1--3--4-------- a-0--2--3-------------------- e----------------------------
Half-Whole
An 8 note diminished scale that uses a repeating sequence of half and whole steps to reach the octave. (h w h w h w h w). Contains the fully diminished 7th chord. Because the scale repeats its sequence every 2 notes, it has a very weak tonality.
A Half-Whole e---------------------------- b---------------------------- g----------------------0--2-- d-------------1--2--4-------- a-0--1--3--4----------------- e----------------------------