Free tool

Every scale. In every key, with its notes, steps and chords. Or find the scale from your notes.

C major (ionian)

C D E F G A B

Degrees 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 · Steps W W H W W W H

Chords in the key

Scale formulas

Degrees against the major scale, the steps between notes (W whole, H half), and each scale on C.

ScaleFormulaStepsOn C
Major (Ionian)1 2 3 4 5 6 7W W H W W W HC D E F G A B
Natural minor (Aeolian)1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7W H W W H W WC D E♭ F G A♭ B♭
Harmonic minor1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7W H W W H W+H HC D E♭ F G A♭ B
Melodic minor (ascending)1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 7W H W W W W HC D E♭ F G A B
Major pentatonic1 2 3 5 6W W W+H W W+HC D E G A
Minor pentatonic1 ♭3 4 5 ♭7W+H W W W+H WC E♭ F G B♭
Blues1 ♭3 4 ♭5 5 ♭7W+H W H H W+H WC E♭ F G♭ G B♭
Dorian1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7W H W W W H WC D E♭ F G A B♭
Mixolydian1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7W W H W W H WC D E F G A B♭
Lydian1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7W W W H W W HC D E F♯ G A B
Phrygian1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7H W W W H W WC D♭ E♭ F G A♭ B♭
Locrian1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7H W W H W W WC D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭
Whole tone1 2 3 ♯4 ♯5 ♭7W W W W W WC D E F♯ G♯ B♭
Diminished (half-whole)1 ♭2 ♯2 3 ♯4 5 6 ♭7H W H W H W H WC D♭ D♯ E F♯ G A B♭
How it works

01

Pick a key and a scale

Major, the three minors, the seven modes, pentatonics, blues, whole tone and diminished, on any of 17 tonics.

02

See the notes and chords

The notes are spelled correctly, one letter per degree, so F major shows B♭ rather than A♯. Below them are the chords built on each degree, with Roman numerals.

03

Or find it from notes

Switch to Find a scale and click the notes you're using. Every scale that contains them is listed, the closest fits first.

Questions

What is the difference between a scale and a mode?
A mode is a scale started from a different degree of another scale. D Dorian has the same notes as C major, but centred on D, which gives it a minor sound with a raised sixth. The seven modes of the major scale are Ionian (major), Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian (natural minor) and Locrian.
Why are there three minor scales?
Natural minor is the plain relative of a major scale. Harmonic minor raises the seventh so the V chord is major and leads strongly home. Melodic minor also raises the sixth, smoothing the jump that creates; in classical use it reverts to natural minor going down, while jazz uses the raised form both ways, as shown here.
What do the Roman numerals mean?
They number the chords by the scale degree they're built on. Upper case is major, lower case is minor, ° is diminished and + augmented. In C major, I–V–vi–IV is C–G–Am–F; in any other key the same numerals give the same progression.
Why do some scales show a double sharp?
Because each letter appears once. G♯ harmonic minor raises its seventh degree, F♯, to F𝄪 (F double sharp) rather than calling it G, which is already used by the tonic.
Is it free?
Yes, with no sign-up. It runs in your browser.

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