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Scales and modes by ear

Fourteen scales, each playable up and down on any key, with its formula and a quiz.

A scale is a set of notes defined by its steps from a tonic. The major scale (W-W-H-W-W-W-H) and the natural minor scale (W-H-W-W-H-W-W) are the foundation; the pentatonic scales keep 5 of their notes, and the modes start the major scale on another degree.

Play every scale from C

7 notesMajor scaleBright, familiar and resolved7 notesMinor scaleDarker, more serious or wistful than major7 notesHarmonic minor scaleDark and dramatic, with a Middle-Eastern or flamenco flavour from the 6th-to-7th jump (F to G♯ in A)7 notesMelodic minor scaleMinor at the bottom, major at the top5 notesPentatonic scaleOpen, simple and folk-like5 notesMinor pentatonic scaleEarthy and bluesy, a little gritty6 notesBlues scaleGritty and expressive12 notesChromatic scaleSlippery and tense when played fast; slow, it sounds like a slow climb with no landing6 notesWhole tone scaleHazy and weightless, the sound of dream sequences7 notesDorian modeCool, soulful minor7 notesPhrygian modeDark and exotic, heard in flamenco, metal riffs and film music7 notesLydian modeBrighter than major, magical and weightless7 notesMixolydian modeMajor with a laid-back, bluesy edge7 notesLocrian modeUnstable and dark, with no solid home

Scale chart: every scale on C

ScaleNotes on CSteps
Major scaleC D E F G A BW-W-H-W-W-W-H
Minor scaleC D E♭ F G A♭ B♭W-H-W-W-H-W-W
Harmonic minor scaleC D E♭ F G A♭ BW-H-W-W-H-W+H-H
Melodic minor scaleC D E♭ F G A BW-H-W-W-W-W-H
Pentatonic scaleC D E G AW-W-W+H-W-W+H
Minor pentatonic scaleC E♭ F G B♭W+H-W-W-W+H-W
Blues scaleC E♭ F G♭ G B♭W+H-W-H-H-W+H-W
Chromatic scaleC C♯ D D♯ E F F♯ G G♯ A A♯ BH-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H
Whole tone scaleC D E F♯ G♯ B♭W-W-W-W-W-W
Dorian modeC D E♭ F G A B♭W-H-W-W-W-H-W
Phrygian modeC D♭ E♭ F G A♭ B♭H-W-W-W-H-W-W
Lydian modeC D E F♯ G A BW-W-W-H-W-W-H
Mixolydian modeC D E F G A B♭W-W-H-W-W-H-W
Locrian modeC D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭H-W-W-H-W-W-W

Frequently asked questions

What is a scale in music?

A set of notes in order of pitch, defined by its steps from a starting note (the tonic). The major scale, for example, follows whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half.

What are the most important scales to learn?

The major scale, the natural minor scale and the two pentatonic scales cover most melodies. Harmonic and melodic minor, the blues scale and the modes come next.

What are the seven modes?

Ionian (the major scale), Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian (the natural minor) and Locrian: the major scale started on each of its seven notes.

How do you learn scales by ear?

Sing them with solfège (do re mi), listen for where the half steps fall, and compare scales that differ by one note, such as major and Mixolydian.

Keep going

GuideSolfègeSing any scale with do re miGuideCircle of fifthsEvery key and its signatureRelatedChordsBuilt from scale notes