Ref: Common Scales

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Heptatonic

7-note 5-note 6-note 8-note Chrom.

 

Major

Major Natural Min Harmonic Min Harmonic Maj Melodic Min Jazz Minor Dbl. Harmonic Hungarian Min

 

R M2 M3 P4 P5 M6 M7 R
 w  w  h  w  w  w  h

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.

Its diatonic chords are I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi, vii°.

  C Major
E------------------------
B-------------------0--1-
G-------------0--2-------
D----0--2--3-------------
A-3----------------------
E------------------------
  C  D  E  F  G  A  B  C

C	C/A	A	G
|o|o|-|o|-| |o|x|-|o|-| |o|-|o|-|*| |o|-|o|o|-| |o|-|o|x|-| |o|o|-|o|-|	|o|-|o|-|o| |x|-|o|-|o| |-|o|-|o|*| |-|o|o|-|o| |-|o|x|-|o| |o|-|o|-|o|	|o|-|o|-|o| |o|-|o|-|o| |-|o|x|-|*| |-|o|o|-|o| |x|-|o|-|o| |o|-|o|-|o|	|o|-|o|x|-| |o|o|-|o|-| |x|-|o|-|*| |o|-|o|-|o| |o|-|o|o|-| |o|-|o|x|-|
G/E	E	D
|o|x|-|o|-| |-|o|-|o|-| |o|-|o|o|-| |o|-|o|x|-| |o|o|-|o|-| |o|x|-|o|-|	|x|-|o|-|o| |o|-|o|-|o| |-|o|o|-|*| |-|o|x|-|o| |o|-|o|-|o| |x|-|o|-|o|	|o|-|o|o|-| |o|-|o|x|-| |o|-|o|-|*| |x|-|o|-|o| |o|-|o|-|o| |o|-|o|o|-|

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Natural Minor

Major Natural Min Harmonic Min Harmonic Maj Melodic Min Jazz Minor Dbl. Harmonic Hungarian Min

 

R M2 m3 P4 P5 m6 m7 R
 w  h  w  w  h  w  w

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.

Its diatonic chords are i, ii°, III, iv, v, VI, VII.

  A Natural Minor
E------------------------
B------------------------
G-------------------0--2-
D----------0--2--3-------
A-0--2--3----------------
E------------------------
  A  B  C  D  E  F  G  A

C	C/A	A	G
|o|-|o|-|o| |o|-|x|-|o| |-|o|o|-|*| |-|o|o|-|o| |o|-|o|-|x| |o|-|o|-|o|	|o|-|o|o|-| |x|-|o|o|-| |o|-|o|-|*| |o|-|o|-|o| |o|-|x|-|o| |o|-|o|o|-|	|o|o|-|o|-| |o|o|-|o|-| |o|-|x|-|-| |o|-|o|o|-| |x|-|o|o|-| |o|o|-|o|-|	|o|-|o|-|x| |o|-|o|-|o| |-|x|-|o|*| |-|o|o|-|o| |-|o|o|-|o| |o|-|o|-|x|
G/E	E	D
|o|-|x|-|o| |o|-|o|o|-| |-|o|o|-|*| |o|-|o|-|x| |o|-|o|-|o| |o|-|x|-|o|	|x|-|o|o|-| |o|o|-|o|-| |o|-|o|-|*| |o|-|x|-|o| |o|-|o|o|-| |x|-|o|o|-|	|o|o|-|o|-| |-|o|-|x|-| |o|-|o|o|-| |x|-|o|o|-| |o|o|-|o|-| |o|o|-|o|-|

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Harmonic Minor

Major Natural Min Harmonic Min Harmonic Maj Melodic Min Jazz Minor Dbl. Harmonic Hungarian Min

 

R M2 m3 P4 P5 m6 M7 R
 w  h  w  w  h  +  h

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).

Its diatonic chords are i, ii°, III+, iv, V, VI, vii°.

  A Harmonic Minor
E------------------------
B------------------------
G-------------------1--2-
D----------0--2--3-------
A-0--2--3----------------
E------------------------
  A  B  C  D  E  F  G# A

C	C/A	A	G
|o|-|o|-|o| |-|o|x|-|o| |-|o|o|-|-| |-|o|o|-|o| |o|-|-|o|x| |o|-|o|-|o|	|o|-|o|o|-| |x|-|o|o|-| |o|-|-|o|*| |o|-|o|-|o| |-|o|x|-|o| |o|-|o|o|-|	|o|o|-|o|-| |o|o|-|o|-| |-|o|x|-|*| |o|-|o|o|-| |x|-|o|o|-| |o|o|-|-|o|	|o|-|-|o|x| |o|-|o|-|o| |o|x|-|o|*| |-|o|o|-|-| |-|o|o|-|o| |o|-|-|o|x|
G/E	E	D
|-|o|x|-|o| |o|-|o|-|o| |-|o|o|-|*| |o|-|-|o|x| |o|-|o|-|o| |-|o|x|-|o|	|x|-|o|o|-| |o|o|-|-|o| |o|-|o|-|*| |-|o|x|-|o| |o|-|o|o|-| |x|-|o|o|-|	|o|o|-|o|-| |-|-|o|x|-| |o|-|o|o|-| |x|-|o|o|-| |o|o|-|-|o| |o|o|-|o|-|

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Harmonic Major

Major Natural Min Harmonic Min Harmonic Maj Melodic Min Jazz Minor Dbl. Harmonic Hungarian Min

 

R M2 M3 P4 P5 m6 M7 R
 w  w  h  w  h  +  h

Harmonic major is the Harmonic Minor scale with a sharped 3rd note, or the Major scale with a flatted 6th.

Its diatonic chords are I, ii°, iii, iv, V, VI+, vii°.

  A Harmonic Major
E------------------------
B------------------------
G-------------------1--2-
D----------0--2--3-------
A-0--2--4----------------
E------------------------
  A  B  C# D  E  F  G# A

C	C/A	A	G
|-|o|o|-|o| |-|o|x|-|o| |-|o|o|-|-| |-|o|-|o|o| |o|-|-|o|x| |-|o|o|-|o|	|o|-|o|o|-| |x|-|o|-|o| |o|-|-|o|*| |-|o|o|-|o| |-|o|x|-|o| |o|-|o|o|-|	|o|o|-|-|o| |o|-|o|o|-| |-|o|x|-|*| |o|-|o|o|-| |x|-|o|-|o| |o|o|-|-|o|	|o|-|-|o|x| |-|o|o|-|o| |o|x|-|o|-| |-|o|o|-|-| |-|o|-|o|o| |o|-|-|o|x|
G/E	E	D
|-|o|x|-|o| |o|-|o|-|o| |-|o|-|o|*| |o|-|-|o|x| |-|o|o|-|o| |-|o|x|-|o|	|x|-|o|-|o| |*|o|-|-|o| |-|o|o|-|o| |-|o|x|-|o| |o|-|o|o|-| |x|-|o|-|o|	|o|-|o|o|-| |-|-|o|x|-| |o|-|o|o|-| |x|-|o|-|o| |o|o|-|-|o| |o|-|o|o|-|

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Melodic Minor

Major Natural Min Harmonic Min Harmonic Maj Melodic Min Jazz Minor Dbl. Harmonic Hungarian Min

 

 Ascending
R M2 m3 P4 P5 M6 M7 R
 w  h  w  w  w  w  h

 Descending
R M2 m3 P4 P5 m6 m7 R
 w  h  w  w  h  w  w

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.

Its diatonic chords are either the same as #Natural Minor or #Harmonic Minor but typically is played over Harmonic Minor: i, ii°, III+, iv, V, VI, vii°.

  A Melodic Minor
E----------------------------------------------
B----------------------------------------------
G-------------------1--2--0--------------------
D----------0--2--4-----------3--2--0-----------
A-0--2--3-----------------------------3--2--0--
E----------------------------------------------
  A  B  C  D  E  F# G# A  G  F  E  D  C  B  A

Ascending
C	C/A	A	G
|o|-|o|-|o| |-|o|x|-|o| |-|o|-|o|-| |-|o|o|-|o| |-|o|-|o|x| |o|-|o|-|o|	|o|-|o|-|o| |x|-|o|o|-| |-|o|-|o|*| |o|-|o|-|o| |-|o|x|-|o| |o|-|o|-|o|	|o|-|o|-|o| |o|o|-|o|-| |-|o|x|-|*| |o|-|o|-|o| |x|-|o|o|-| |o|-|o|-|o|	|-|o|-|o|x| |o|-|o|-|o| |o|x|-|o|*| |-|o|-|o|-| |-|o|o|-|o| |-|o|-|o|x|
G/E	E	D
|-|o|x|-|o| |o|-|o|-|o| |-|o|o|-|*| |-|o|-|o|x| |o|-|o|-|o| |-|o|x|-|o|	|x|-|o|o|-| |o|-|o|-|o| |o|-|o|-|*| |-|o|x|-|o| |o|-|o|-|o| |x|-|o|o|-|	|o|o|-|o|-| |o|-|o|x|-| |o|-|o|-|*| |x|-|o|o|-| |o|-|o|-|o| |o|o|-|o|-|
Descending
C	C/A	A	G
|o|-|o|-|o| |o|-|x|-|o| |-|o|o|-|*| |-|o|o|-|o| |o|-|o|-|x| |o|-|o|-|o|	|o|-|o|o|-| |x|-|o|o|-| |o|-|o|-|*| |o|-|o|-|o| |o|-|x|-|o| |o|-|o|o|-|	|o|o|-|o|-| |o|o|-|o|-| |o|-|x|-|*| |o|-|o|o|-| |x|-|o|o|-| |o|o|-|o|-|	|o|-|o|-|x| |o|-|o|-|o| |-|x|-|o|*| |-|o|o|-|o| |-|o|o|-|o| |o|-|o|-|x|
G/E	E	D
|o|-|x|-|o| |o|-|o|-|o| |-|o|o|-|*| |-|o|o|-|x| |o|-|o|-|o| |o|-|x|-|o|	|x|-|o|o|-| |o|o|-|o|-| |o|-|o|-|*| |o|-|x|-|o| |o|-|o|o|-| |x|-|o|o|-|	|o|o|-|o|-| |-|o|-|x|-| |o|-|o|o|-| |x|-|o|o|-| |o|o|-|o|-| |o|o|-|o|-|
Together
(ascending or descending)
C	C/A	A	G
|o|-|o|-|o| |d|a|x|-|o| |-|o|d|a|-| |-|o|o|-|o| |d|a|d|a|x| |o|-|o|-|o|	|o|-|o|d|a| |x|-|o|o|-| |d|a|d|a|-| |o|-|o|-|o| |d|a|x|-|o| |o|-|o|d|a|	|o|d|a|d|a| |o|o|-|o|-| |d|a|x|-|-| |o|-|o|d|a| |x|-|o|o|-| |o|d|a|d|a|	|d|a|d|a|x| |o|-|o|-|o| |a|x|-|o|-| |-|o|d|a|d| |-|o|o|-|o| |d|a|d|a|x|
G/E	E	D
|d|a|x|-|o| |-|-|o|d|a| |-|o|o|-|o| |d|a|d|a|x| |o|-|o|-|o| |d|a|x|-|o|	|x|-|o|o|-| |o|d|a|d|a| |o|-|o|-|-| |d|a|x|-|o| |o|-|o|d|a| |x|-|o|o|-|	|o|o|-|o|-| |a|d|a|x|-| |o|-|o|d|-| |x|-|o|o|-| |o|d|a|d|a| |o|o|-|o|-|

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Jazz Minor

Major Natural Min Harmonic Min Harmonic Maj Melodic Min Jazz Minor Dbl. Harmonic Hungarian Min

 

R M2 m3 P4 P5 M6 M7 R
 w  h  w  w  w  w  h

The Jazz Minor scale is identical to the ascending Melodic Minor scale, but uses the same notes descending.

Its diatonic chords are i, ii, III+, IV, V, vi°, vii°.

  A Jazz Minor
E------------------------
B------------------------
G-------------------1--2-
D----------0--2--4-------
A-0--2--3----------------
E------------------------
  A  B  C  D  E  F# G# A 

C	C/A	A	G
|o|-|o|-|o| |-|o|x|-|o| |-|o|-|o|-| |-|o|o|-|o| |-|o|-|o|x| |o|-|o|-|o|	|o|-|o|-|o| |x|-|o|o|-| |-|o|-|o|*| |o|-|o|-|o| |-|o|x|-|o| |o|-|o|-|o|	|o|-|o|-|o| |o|o|-|o|-| |-|o|x|-|*| |o|-|o|-|o| |x|-|o|o|-| |o|-|o|-|o|	|-|o|-|o|x| |o|-|o|-|o| |o|x|-|o|*| |-|o|-|o|-| |-|o|o|-|o| |-|o|-|o|x|
G/E	E	D
|-|o|x|-|o| |o|-|o|-|o| |-|o|o|-|*| |-|o|-|o|x| |o|-|o|-|o| |-|o|x|-|o|	|x|-|o|o|-| |o|-|o|-|o| |o|-|o|-|*| |-|o|x|-|o| |o|-|o|-|o| |x|-|o|o|-|	|o|o|-|o|-| |o|-|o|x|-| |o|-|o|-|*| |x|-|o|o|-| |o|-|o|-|o| |o|o|-|o|-|

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Double Harmonic

Major Natural Min Harmonic Min Harmonic Maj Melodic Min Jazz Minor Dbl. Harmonic Hungarian Min

 

R m2 M3 P4 P5 m6 M7 R
 h  +  h  w  h  +  h

This is called the double harmonic scale due to its dual harmonic tetrachords (h + h). It has a very exotic feel due to the augmented 2nds, as well as containing both the m2 and M7 notes around the root. It is most easily arrived at by flatting the 2nd of the Harmonic Major scale. It is also a mode of #Hungarian Minor.

Its diatonic chords are I, II, iii, iv, V♭5, VI, vii°♭3.

  A Double Harmonic
E------------------------
B------------------------
G-------------------1--2-
D----------0--2--3-------
A-0--1--4----------------
E------------------------
  A  Bb C# D  E  F  G# A

C	C/A	A	G
|-|o|o|-|o| |-|o|x|o|-| |-|o|o|-|-| |o|-|-|o|o| |o|-|-|o|x| |-|o|o|-|o|	|o|-|o|o|-| |x|o|-|-|o| |o|-|-|o|*| |-|o|o|-|o| |-|o|x|o|-| |o|-|o|o|-|	|o|o|-|-|o| |-|-|o|o|-| |-|o|x|o|-| |o|-|o|o|-| |x|o|-|-|o| |o|o|-|-|o|	|o|-|-|o|x| |-|o|o|-|o| |o|x|o|-|-| |-|o|o|-|-| |o|-|-|o|o| |o|-|-|o|x|
G/E	E	D
|-|o|x|o|-| |o|-|o|-|o| |o|-|-|o|*| |o|-|-|o|x| |-|o|o|-|o| |-|o|x|o|-|	|x|o|-|-|o| |*|o|-|-|o| |-|o|o|-|o| |-|o|x|o|-| |o|-|o|o|-| |x|o|-|-|o|	|-|-|o|o|-| |-|-|o|x|o| |o|-|o|o|-| |x|o|-|-|o| |o|o|-|-|o| |-|-|o|o|-|
|-|-|-|-|-|-|o|x|o| |-|-|-|-|o|o|-|o|o| |-|-|-|o|x|o|-|-|-| |-|o|o|-|o|o|-|-|-| |-|o|x|o|-|-|-|-|-| |o|-|o|o|-|-|-|-|-|

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Hungarian Minor

Major Natural Min Harmonic Min Harmonic Maj Melodic Min Jazz Minor Dbl. Harmonic Hungarian Min

 

R M2 m3 a4 P5 m6 M7 R
 w  h  +  h  h  +  h

Has 2 augmented 2nds and 2 consecutive half-steps for a very exotic feel. It's most easily derived by sharping the perfect 4th of the Harmonic Minor scale. All its half-steps make its tonality ambiguous. It is also known as the Gypsy Minor scale, traditionally popular in Eastern Europe. It works well over minor and minor/major 7th chords. It is also a mode of the #Double Harmonic scale.

Its diatonic chords are i, II⁷♭5, III+, V, ♭VI^Δ7, vii6.

  A Double Harmonic
E------------------------
B------------------------
G-------------------1--2-
D----------1--2--3-------
A-0--2--3----------------
E------------------------
  A  B  C  D# E  F  G# A

C	C/A	A	G
|o|-|-|o|o| |-|o|x|-|o| |o|o|o|-|-| |-|o|o|-|-| |o|-|-|o|x| |o|-|-|o|o|	|-|o|o|o|-| |x|-|o|-|o| |o|-|-|o|*| |o|-|-|o|o| |-|o|x|-|o| |-|o|o|o|-|	|o|o|-|-|o| |*|o|-|-|o| |-|o|x|-|o| |-|o|o|o|-| |x|-|o|o|-| |o|o|-|-|o|	|-|-|o|x|-| |-|-|o|o|o| |x|-|o|o|-| |o|o|-|-|o| |o|o|-|-|o| |-|-|o|x|-|
G/E	E	D
|-|o|x|-|o| |-|o|o|o|-| |-|o|o|-|-| |o|-|-|o|x| |o|-|-|o|o| |-|o|x|-|o|	|x|-|o|o|-| |o|o|-|-|o| |o|-|-|o|*| |-|o|x|-|o| |-|o|o|o|-| |x|-|o|o|-|	|o|o|-|-|o| |-|-|o|x|-| |-|o|o|o|-| |x|-|o|o|-| |o|o|-|-|o| |o|o|-|-|o|
|-|-|-|-|-|-|o|o|o| |-|-|-|-|o|x|-|o|o| |-|-|-|o|o|o|-|-|-| |-|o|x|-|o|o|-|-|-| |-|o|o|o|-|-|-|-|-| |x|-|o|o|-|-|-|-|-|

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Pentatonic

7-note 5-note 6-note 8-note Chrom.

 

Major Pentatonic

Major Minor Yo In Sus. Blues

 

R M2 M3 P5 M6 R
 w  w  +  w  +

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------------------
  C  D  E  G  A  C

C	A	G
|o|-|-|o| |-|x|-|o| |o|-|o|-| |o|-|o|-| |o|-|-|x| |o|-|-|o|	|-|o|-|o| |-|o|-|o| |o|-|-|x| |o|-|-|o| |-|x|-|o| |-|o|-|o|	|o|-|-|x| |o|-|-|o| |x|-|o|-| |o|-|o|-| |o|-|o|-| |o|-|-|x|
E	D
|-|x|-|o| |-|o|-|o| |o|-|o|-| |o|-|-|x| |o|-|-|o| |-|x|-|o|	|-|o|-|o|-| |-|o|-|-|x| |o|-|-|o|-| |-|x|-|o|-| |-|o|-|o|-| |-|o|-|o|-|

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Minor Pentatonic

Major Minor Yo In Sus. Blues

 

R m3 P4 P5 m7 R
 +  w  w  +  w

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------------------
  A  C  D  E  G  A

C	A
|-|o|-|o|-| |-|x|-|-|o| |o|-|-|o|-| |-|o|-|o|-| |-|o|-|x|-| |-|o|-|o|-|	|o|-|-|o| |-|o|-|o| |o|-|x|-| |o|-|o|-| |x|-|-|o| |o|-|-|o|
G	E	D
|-|o|-|x| |-|o|-|o| |x|-|-|o| |o|-|-|o| |-|o|-|o| |-|o|-|x|	|x|-|-|o| |o|-|-|o| |o|-|o|-| |o|-|x|-| |o|-|o|-| |x|-|-|o|	|-|o|-|o| |-|o|-|x| |o|-|o|-| |x|-|-|o| |o|-|-|o| |-|o|-|o|

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Eastern Pentatonic - Yo

Major Minor Yo In Sus. Blues

 

R M2 P4 P5 M6 R
 w  +  w  w  +

This scale is very similar to the major pentatonic scale; however, it uses a P4 instead of M3. It does have a slightly Eastern feel to it, but it fits in nicely with Western music. It is actually a mode of the common minor and major pentatonic scales.

  G Yo Pentatonic
E------------------
B------------------
G----------------0-
D----------0--2----
A----0--3----------
E-3----------------
  G  A  C  D  E  G

C	A
|-|o|-|o| |-|x|-|o| |o|-|o|-| |o|-|-|o| |o|-|-|x| |-|o|-|o|	|-|o|-|o|-| |-|o|-|-|o| |o|-|-|x|-| |-|o|-|o|-| |-|x|-|o|-| |-|o|-|o|-|
G	E	D
|o|-|-|x| |-|o|-|o| |x|-|o|-| |o|-|o|-| |o|-|-|o| |o|-|-|x|	|-|x|-|o| |-|o|-|o| |o|-|-|o| |o|-|-|x| |-|o|-|o| |-|x|-|o|	|o|-|-|o| |o|-|-|x| |o|-|o|-| |x|-|o|-| |o|-|o|-| |o|-|-|o|

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Eastern Pentatonic - In

Major Minor Yo In Sus. Blues

 

R m2 P4 P5 m6 R
 h  *  w  h  *

Take the above scale and flat the 2nd and 6th. It has a similar feel to the Phrygian mode, containing a subset of its notes. Yet the M3 jumps really emphasize an exotic feel.

 G In Pentatonic
E------------------
B------------------
G----------------0-
D----------0--1----
A-------3----------
E-3--4-------------
  G  Ab C  D  Eb G

C	A	G
|-|-|o|-|o| |-|-|x|o|-| |-|o|o|-|-| |o|-|-|-|o| |o|-|-|-|x| |-|-|o|-|o|	|o|o|-|-| |-|-|-|o| |-|-|x|o| |o|-|o|o| |x|o|-|-| |o|o|-|-|	|o|-|-|-|x| |-|-|o|-|o| |-|x|o|-|-| |-|o|o|-|-| |o|-|-|-|o| |o|-|-|-|x|
E	D
|x|o|-|-| |o|o|-|-| |-|-|o|-| |-|-|x|o| |o|-|o|o| |x|o|-|-|	|o|-|-|-|o| |o|-|-|-|x| |-|o|-|o|-| |-|x|o|-|-| |-|o|o|-|-| |o|-|-|-|o|
|-|-|-|-|-|o|-|o|o| |-|-|-|-|-|x|o|-|-| |-|-|o|-|o|o|-|-|-| |-|-|x|o|-|-|-|-|-| |o|-|o|o|-|-|-|-|-| |x|o|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|

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Egyptian/Suspended Pentatonic

Major Minor Yo In Sus. Blues

 

R M2 P4 P5 m7 R
 w  +  w  +  w

  D Egyptian/Suspended Pentatonic
E------------------
B-------------1--3-
G-------0--2-------
D-0--2-------------
A------------------
E------------------
  D  E  G  A  C  D

C	A	G
|-|o|-|o| |-|x|-|o| |o|-|-|o| |o|-|-|o| |-|o|-|x| |-|o|-|o|	|o|-|-|o| |o|-|-|o| |o|-|x|-| |o|-|o|-| |x|-|o|-| |o|-|-|o|	|-|o|-|x| |-|o|-|o| |x|-|o|-| |o|-|-|o| |o|-|-|o| |-|o|-|x|
E	D
|-|x|-|o|-| |-|o|-|-|o| |o|-|-|o|-| |-|o|-|x|-| |-|o|-|o|-| |-|x|-|o|-|	|o|-|-|o|-| |-|o|-|x|-| |o|-|o|-|-| |x|-|o|-|-| |o|-|-|o|-| |o|-|-|o|-|

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Pentatonic - Minor Blues

Major Minor Yo In Sus. Blues

 

R m3 P4 m6 m7 R
 +  w  +  w  w

  E Minor Blues Pentatonic
E----------------0-
B----------1--3----
G----0--2----------
D-2----------------
A------------------
E------------------
  E  G  A  C  D  E

C	A	G
|o|-|-|o| |x|-|-|o| |o|-|o|-| |o|-|o|-| |o|-|x|-| |o|-|-|o|	|-|o|-|o| |-|o|-|o| |o|-|x|-| |o|-|-|o| |x|-|-|o| |-|o|-|o|	|-|o|-|x|-| |-|o|-|-|o| |x|-|-|o|-| |-|o|-|o|-| |-|o|-|o|-| |-|o|-|x|-|
E	D
|x|-|-|o|-| |-|o|-|o|-| |o|-|o|-|-| |o|-|x|-|-| |o|-|-|o|-| |x|-|-|o|-|	|-|o|-|o| |-|o|-|x| |o|-|-|o| |x|-|-|o| |-|o|-|o| |-|o|-|o|

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Hexatonic

7-note 5-note 6-note 8-note Chrom.

 

Blues Scale

Blues Whole Tone Augmented Prometheus Tritone

 

R m3 P4 d5 P5 m7 R
 +  w  h  h  +  w

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---------------------
  A  C  D  Eb E  G  A

C	A	G
|-|o|o|o|-| |-|x|-|-|o| |o|-|-|o|-| |-|o|-|o|o| |-|o|-|x|-| |-|o|o|o|-|	|o|-|-|o|-| |-|o|-|o|o| |o|-|x|-|-| |o|o|o|-|-| |x|-|-|o|-| |o|-|-|o|-|	|-|o|-|x|-| |-|o|o|o|-| |x|-|-|o|-| |o|-|-|o|-| |-|o|-|o|o| |-|o|-|x|-|
E	D
|x|-|-|o| |o|-|-|o| |o|-|o|o| |o|-|x|-| |o|o|o|-| |x|-|-|o|	|-|o|-|o|o| |-|o|-|x|-| |o|o|o|-|-| |x|-|-|o|-| |o|-|-|o|-| |-|o|-|o|o|

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Whole Tone or Hexatonic

Blues Whole Tone Augmented Prometheus Tritone

 

R M2 M3 a4 a5 a6 R  =  R M2 M3 d5 m6 m7 R
 w  w  w  w  w  w

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---------------------
  A  B  C# D# F  G  A

Pattern 1	Pattern 2
|-|x|-|x|-| |x|-|x|-|x| |x|-|x|-|*| |-|x|-|x|-| |x|-|x|-|x| |-|x|-|x|-|	|x|-|x|-|x| |-|x|-|x|-| |-|x|-|x|-| |x|-|x|-|x| |-|x|-|x|-| |x|-|x|-|x|
3 nps
|-|-|-|-|-|-|x|-|x|-|x| |-|-|-|-|-|x|-|x|-|x|-| |-|-|-|x|-|x|-|x|-|-|-| |-|-|x|-|x|-|x|-|-|-|-| |-|x|-|x|-|x|-|-|-|-|-| |x|-|x|-|x|-|-|-|-|-|-|

* These patterns will work with any root, as the whole tone scale is fully symmetric.

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Augmented

Blues Whole Tone Augmented Prometheus Tritone

 

R a2 M3 P5 m6 M7 R
 +  h  +  h  +  h

Pattern 1	Pattern 2
|x|-|-|o|x| |o|x|-|-|-| |o|x|-|-|-| |-|o|x|-|-| |-|-|o|x|-| |x|-|-|o|x|	|x|-|-|o|-|-|-|-| |-|x|-|-|o|-|-|-| |-|x|-|-|o|-|-|-| |-|-|x|-|-|o|-|-| |-|-|-|x|-|-|o|-| |-|-|-|-|x|-|-|o|

* This scale is symmetric when dividing the octave into thirds. Every other note can be the root, and the scale pattern is identical.

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Prometheus

Blues Whole Tone Augmented Prometheus Tritone

 

R M2 M3 a4 M6 m7 R
 w  w  w  +  h  w

C	C/A	A	G
|o|-|o|-|-| |-|x|-|o|-| |-|-|o|o|-| |o|-|o|-|o| |o|o|-|x|-| |o|-|o|-|-|	|-|o|-|-|o| |x|-|o|-|o| |-|o|o|-|*| |-|o|-|o|-| |o|-|x|-|o| |-|o|-|-|o|	|-|-|o|o|-| |o|-|o|-|o| |o|-|x|-|*| |-|o|-|-|o| |x|-|o|-|o| |-|-|o|o|-|	|o|o|-|x|-| |o|-|o|-|-| |x|-|o|-|*| |-|-|o|o|-| |o|-|o|-|o| |o|o|-|x|-|
G/E	E	D
|o|-|x|-|o| |-|o|-|-|o| |-|o|-|o|-| |-|o|o|-|x| |-|o|-|o|-| |o|-|x|-|o|	|x|-|o|-|o| |-|-|o|o|-| |-|o|-|o|-| |o|-|x|-|o| |-|o|-|-|o| |x|-|o|-|o|	|o|-|o|-|o| |*|o|-|x|-| |-|o|-|-|o| |x|-|o|-|o| |-|-|o|o|-| |o|-|o|-|o|

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Tritone

Blues Whole Tone Augmented Prometheus Tritone

 

R m2 m3 a4 P5 a6 R
 h  w  +  h  +  w

C	C/A	A	G
|o|-|-|o|o| |o|-|x|o|-| |o|o|-|-|*| |o|-|o|-|-| |-|-|o|-|x| |o|-|-|o|o|	|-|o|o|-|-| |*|o|-|o|-| |-|-|o|-|x| |o|-|-|o|o| |o|-|x|o|-| |-|o|o|-|-|	|o|-|-|o|-| |-|o|-|-|o| |o|-|x|o|-| |-|o|o|-|-| |x|o|-|o|-| |o|-|-|o|-|	|-|-|o|-|x| |o|-|-|o|o| |-|x|o|-|*| |o|o|-|-|o| |o|-|o|-|-| |-|-|o|-|x|
G/E	E	D
|o|-|x|o|-| |-|o|o|-|-| |o|-|o|-|-| |-|-|o|-|x| |o|-|-|o|o| |o|-|x|o|-|	|x|o|-|o|-| |o|-|-|o|-| |o|-|-|o|*| |o|-|x|o|-| |-|o|o|-|-| |x|o|-|o|-|	|-|o|-|-|o| |-|o|-|x|o| |-|o|o|-|-| |x|o|-|o|-| |o|-|-|o|-| |-|o|-|-|o|

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Octatonic

7-note 5-note 6-note 8-note Chrom.

 

Whole-Half

Whole-Half Half-Whole

 

R M2 m3 P4 d5 m6 M6 M7 R
 w  h  w  h  w  h  w  h

An 8 note diminished scale that uses a repeating sequence of whole and half steps (making it a symmetric scale) 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----------------------------
  A  B  C  D  Eb F  Gb Ab A

Pattern 1	Pattern 2	3 nps
|x|-|o|x|-| |-|o|x|-|o| |x|-|o|x|-| |-|o|x|-|o| |o|x|-|o|x| |x|-|o|x|-|	|-|o|x|-|o| |-|x|-|o|x| |-|o|x|-|o| |o|x|-|o|x| |x|-|o|x|-| |-|o|x|-|o|	|o|x|-|o|-| |x|-|o|x|-| |o|x|-|o|-| |x|-|o|x|-| |-|o|x|-|o| |-|x|-|o|x|
4 nps
|-|-|-|-|-|-|o|x|-|o|x| |-|-|-|-|-|o|x|-|o|x|-| |-|-|-|o|x|-|o|x|-|-|-| |-|-|o|x|-|o|x|-|-|-|-| |-|o|x|-|o|x|-|-|-|-|-| |o|x|-|o|x|-|-|-|-|-|-|

* This scale is symmetric when dividing the octave into halves or quarters. Every other note can be the root and produce the same pattern.

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Half-Whole

Whole-Half Half-Whole

 

R m2 m3 d4 d5 P5 M6 m7 R
 h  w  h  w  h  w  h  w

An 8 note diminished scale that uses a repeating sequence of half and whole steps (making it a symmetric scale) 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----------------------------
  A  Bb C  Db Eb E  Gb G  A

Pattern 1	Pattern 2	3 nps
|o|-|x|o|-| |-|x|o|-|x| |o|-|x|o|-| |-|x|o|-|x| |x|o|-|x|o| |o|-|x|o|-|	|-|x|o|-|x| |-|o|-|x|o| |-|x|o|-|x| |x|o|-|x|o| |o|-|x|o|-| |-|x|o|-|x|	|x|o|-|x|-| |o|-|x|o|-| |x|o|-|x|-| |o|-|x|o|-| |-|x|o|-|x| |-|o|-|x|o|
4 nps
|-|-|-|-|-|-|x|o|-|x|o| |-|-|-|-|-|x|o|-|x|o|-| |-|-|-|x|o|-|x|o|-|-|-| |-|-|x|o|-|x|o|-|-|-|-| |-|x|o|-|x|o|-|-|-|-|-| |x|o|-|x|o|-|-|-|-|-|-|

* This scale is symmetric when dividing the octave into halves or quarters. Every other note can be the root and produce the same pattern.

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Chromatic

7-note 5-note 6-note 8-note Chrom.

 

R m2 M2 m3 M3 P4 tt P5 m6 M6 m7 M7 R
 h  h  h  h  h  h  h  h  h  h  h  h

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--2--3--4----------
A-0--1--2--3--4-------------------------
E---------------------------------------
  A  A# B  C  C# D  D# E  F  F# G  G# A

Fixed Pos.	4 nps
|x|x|x|x|x| |x|x|x|x|x| |x|x|x|x|-| |x|x|x|x|x| |x|x|x|x|x| |x|x|x|x|x|	|x|x|x|x|-|-|-|-| |-|x|x|x|x|-|-|-| |-|x|x|x|x|-|-|-| |-|-|x|x|x|x|-|-| |-|-|-|x|x|x|x|-| |-|-|-|-|x|x|x|x|

* This scale is fully symmetric - any note can be the tonic and produce the same fingering pattern.

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