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Scale Comparison Chart

Justinguitar.com on Scales

This is just really technical info to refer to as your study of harmony progresses. The top table shows the notes found in the most common scales and below are the modes of each, except the modes of the pentatonic which are seldom used.

The Basic Scale Forms

Scale	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII
Major Scale	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Melodic Minor	1	2	b3	4	5	6	7
Harmonic Minor	1	2	b3	4	5	b6	7
Natural Minor	1	2	b3	4	5	b6	b7

Minor Pentatonic	1	b3	4	5	b7
Major Pentatonic	1	2	3	5	6
Blues Scale	1	b3	4	b5	5	b7
Minor 6 Pentatonic	1	b3	4	5	6

Major Scale Modes

Scale	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII
Ionian Mode	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Dorian Mode	1	2	b3	4	5	6	b7
Phrygian Mode	1	b2	b3	4	5	b6	b7
Lydian Mode	1	2	3	#4	5	6	7
Mixolydian Mode	1	2	3	4	5	6	b7
Aeolian Mode	1	2	b3	4	5	b6	b7
Locrian Mode	1	b2	b3	4	b5	b6	b7

Melodic Minor Scale Modes

Scale	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII
Melodic Minor	1	2	b3	4	5	6	7
Phrygian Nat 6	1	b2	b3	4	5	6	b7
Lydian Augmented	1	2	3	#4	#5	6	7
Lydian Dominant	1	2	3	#4	5	6	b7
Aeolian Major	1	2	3	4	5	b6	b7
Locrian Nat 2	1	2	b3	4	b5	b6	b7
Super Locrian (Altered Scale)	1	b2	b3	b4	b5	b6	b7

Harmonic Minor Scale Modes

Scale	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII
Harmonic Minor	1	2	b3	4	5	b6	7
Locrian Nat 6	1	b2	b3	4	b5	6	b7
Major Augmented	1	2	3	4	#5	6	7
Dorian #4	1	2	b3	#4	5	6	b7
Phrygian Dominant	1	b2	3	4	5	b6	b7
Lydian #2	1	#2	3	#4	5	6	7
Diminished Locrian	1	b2	b3	b4	b5	b6	bb7

Symmetrical Scales

Scale	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII
Whole Tone Scale	1	2	3	#4	#5	b7	-
Diminished Scale	1	b2	b3	3	#4	5	6	b7

Other Scales

Of course there are many other scales than these shown here but once we get beyond the ones shown here we're getting into pretty unusual scales - most often with very specific uses or scales make up by an artist to work in a particular style or manner.

If you got beyond the ones on this page then you should know enough about scales not to need my help! :)

Justin Guitar