Music scales chart for every key.
Which notes are in D Dorian? Major, minor, harmonic minor, the modes, pentatonic and blues scales on piano and fretboard, in all 12 keys.
All scales in Musicdott →
Not another PDF
with scales on tab 9.
The main modes
Ionian (major) · Dorian · Phrygian · Lydian · Mixolydian · Aeolian (natural minor), in every key.
Degrees visible
Every note is labelled with its scale degree (1, 2, ♭3 and so on), so students see why a scale sounds the way it does.
Pentatonic + blues
The scales you actually use for improvisation — major + minor pentatonic + blue note.
Music scales chart: formulas and examples
Each scale is a pattern of tones (T) and semitones (S). The degrees show how every note relates to the major scale; ♭ means one semitone lower, ♯ one semitone higher.
| Scale | Degrees | Steps | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major (Ionian) | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 | T T S T T T S | C D E F G A B |
| Natural minor (Aeolian) | 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7 | T S T T S T T | A B C D E F G |
| Harmonic minor | 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7 | T S T T S T+S S | A B C D E F G♯ |
| Dorian | 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7 | T S T T T S T | D E F G A B C |
| Phrygian | 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7 | S T T T S T T | E F G A B C D |
| Lydian | 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7 | T T T S T T S | F G A B C D E |
| Mixolydian | 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7 | T T S T T S T | G A B C D E F |
| Major pentatonic | 1 2 3 5 6 | T T T+S T T+S | C D E G A |
| Minor pentatonic | 1 ♭3 4 5 ♭7 | T+S T T T+S T | A C D E G |
| Blues | 1 ♭3 4 ♭5 5 ♭7 | T+S T S S T+S T | A C D E♭ E G |
How to use the scale reference
- Choose a root note and a scale. Any of the 12 keys, shown with sharps or flats.
- See it on your instrument. The notes light up on a piano keyboard and on a fretboard you can switch between guitar, bass and ukulele.
- Read the degrees. Every note is labelled 1, 2, ♭3 and so on, so you can see at a glance which notes make a scale minor, modal or bluesy.
- Listen. Press Play to hear the scale up and down, or click a single note.
Tips for practising scales
- Learn one scale in one position really well before adding the next. A clean minor pentatonic beats five scales you half know.
- Practise with a click from the online metronome, starting slowly and raising the tempo a few BPM at a time.
- Sing or hum the scale as you play it. Hearing the steps is what turns a pattern into music.
- Teachers: link the scale to a song. "This solo uses A minor pentatonic" makes theory stick far better than a list of notes.
In Musicdott, scales, the chord finderand the online tunersit alongside your lessons. See how teachers set homework and follow practice on themusic lesson platform.
Frequently asked questions
Is the scales chart free?+
Yes. The scale reference in Musicdott is free to use in your browser, without an account.
Which scales are included?+
Major, natural minor, harmonic minor, the Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian and Mixolydian modes, major and minor pentatonic, and the blues scale, each in all 12 keys.
What is the difference between natural and harmonic minor?+
Harmonic minor raises the seventh note by a semitone. In A minor that turns G into G♯, which gives the scale its typical exotic step between the sixth and seventh notes and a stronger pull back to the root.
What is a mode?+
A mode uses the notes of a major scale but starts on a different note. D Dorian has exactly the same notes as C major, but because D is home, the scale has a different character: minor, with a bright sixth.
Which scale should I use to improvise over a blues?+
Start with the minor pentatonic in the key of the song. The blues scale adds one extra note, the flattened fifth (the blue note), which gives that classic bluesy sound.
Can I see scales on the guitar fretboard?+
Yes. Besides the piano keyboard, Musicdott shows each scale on a fretboard for guitar, bass or ukulele, with every note labelled by its scale degree. You can also play the scale to hear it.