Music Scales — Major, Minor, Pentatonic & More
Explore all 25 scale types used in Western and contemporary music — from the foundational major and minor scales to pentatonic, modal, jazz, and exotic scales. Every scale includes the note names, interval formula, and diatonic chord qualities in all 12 keys. See also the note frequency reference for pitch data and the chord reference for harmony built from these scales.
What Is a Musical Scale?
A scale is an ordered set of notes defined by a specific pattern of intervals — the distances between each step. Together, the notes of a scale form the raw material for melody and harmony. When you play a song "in the key of C major," you are drawing from the seven notes of the C major scale: C, D, E, F, G, A, B. Change the interval pattern and you get an entirely different scale — and a different musical mood.
The two most common scales are the major scale (whole–whole–half–whole–whole–whole–half) and the natural minor scale (whole–half–whole–whole–half–whole–whole). These diatonic scales contain seven notes and form the foundation of most Western music. From them, you can derive modes, build chords, and construct chord progressions.
Beyond diatonic scales, musicians rely on pentatonic scales (five notes) for blues, rock, and folk; modal scales like Dorian and Mixolydian for jazz and pop; and jazz scales such as the melodic minor, whole tone, and diminished scales for advanced improvisation. Each scale type produces a distinctive sound that suits particular genres and emotional expressions.
Understanding scales is essential for every musician — whether you are a guitarist learning your first pentatonic pattern, a pianist sight-reading key signatures, or a vocalist training your ear to recognize intervals. Use the reference below to explore each scale's interval formula, note names in every key, and the chords that naturally occur within it.