How to use it
- Choose a root note, for example C or F♯.
- Choose a scale or mode.
- Read the notes, steps and key signature.
- Play it ascending, or up and down.
Scales included
| Scale | Pattern (W = whole, H = half) | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| Major (Ionian) | W W H W W W H | Bright, the basis of most pop songs |
| Natural minor (Aeolian) | W H W W H W W | Darker, the relative minor |
| Harmonic minor | W H W W H 1½ H | Raised 7th, classical and Middle Eastern color |
| Melodic minor | W H W W W W H | Raised 6th and 7th going up |
| Dorian | W H W W W H W | Minor with a major 6th, jazz and funk |
| Phrygian | H W W W H W W | Minor with a flat 2nd, Spanish flavor |
| Lydian | W W W H W W H | Major with a raised 4th, dreamy |
| Mixolydian | W W H W W H W | Major with a flat 7th, rock and blues |
| Locrian | H W W H W W W | Diminished 5th, mostly theoretical |
| Major pentatonic | 5 notes, no half steps | Folk, country, rock |
| Minor pentatonic | 5 notes, no half steps | Blues and rock solos |
| Blues scale | Minor pentatonic + ♭5 | The blue note |
| Hungarian minor | Two augmented seconds | Romani and Eastern European music |
Each scale comes with a one-line description, and the steps between neighboring notes are listed with their interval names, so you can see exactly where a step and a half appears.
Spelled correctly in every key
The tool spells every scale the way it's written in sheet music: each letter appears once, so F major has B♭ (not A♯) and F♯ major has E♯ (not F). You can choose any of 17 root spellings, including both names of each black key, such as C♯ and D♭. That matters when you write music or study for a theory exam, because the correct spelling is what makes the key signature work.
For scales that use a key signature, the tool tells you which one. Major and natural minor scales get their own; modes are written with the key signature of their parent major scale (D Dorian uses C major's, with no sharps or flats); harmonic and melodic minor use the natural minor key signature plus accidentals. If a scale would need more than seven sharps or flats, such as G♯ major, you see the enharmonic key that's used in practice, A♭ major.
Triads on each degree
For seven-note scales the tool builds a triad on every degree using only the scale's notes, and labels it with a Roman numeral: uppercase for major, lowercase for minor, ° for diminished and + for augmented. In C major that gives:
| I | ii | iii | IV | V | vi | vii° |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Dm | Em | F | G | Am | B° |
The I, IV and V chords are the backbone of countless songs; in a major key, ii, iii and vi are the minor chords you'll meet next. Switch to harmonic minor and the V chord becomes major, which is exactly why that scale exists.
Hear it and see it on the keyboard
The scale is highlighted on a two-octave piano keyboard, with the root and its octave in a darker color. Click Play ascending or Up and down, pick slow, medium or fast, and each key lights up as it sounds. Melodic minor comes down with natural minor notes, the way it's traditionally played. You can also click any key to hear a single note.
The labels on the keys can show note names or solfège. Solfège follows the scale's own home syllable: Dorian runs re to re, Mixolydian sol to sol, and minor scales are la-based. Everything runs in your browser.
Practice tips
- Learn the major scale pattern first; every mode is the same set of notes started from a different degree.
- Compare scales on the same root (C major, C Dorian, C Mixolydian) to hear what each changed note does.
- For improvising over blues or rock, start with the minor pentatonic and add the ♭5 of the blues scale as a passing note.
- Use the circle of fifths to see how keys relate, and the interval calculator to train your ear on the steps.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the C major scale?
C, D, E, F, G, A, B. It has no sharps or flats.
What is the difference between natural, harmonic and melodic minor?
Natural minor uses the notes of its relative major. Harmonic minor raises the 7th degree. Melodic minor raises the 6th and 7th going up and usually returns to natural minor going down.
What are the seven modes?
Ionian (major), Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian (natural minor) and Locrian. Each starts on a different degree of the major scale.
Why does the tool write E♯ instead of F?
In F♯ major every letter must appear once, so the seventh note is E♯. It sounds the same as F but is spelled correctly for the key.
What is a pentatonic scale?
A five-note scale without half steps. The major pentatonic uses degrees 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 of the major scale; the minor pentatonic is the same notes started from the sixth.
Last updated: November 12, 2026