Scales and keys
Each key has its own page with the scale on the staff and the piano, its key signature and the chords that belong to it. The notes are spelled by rule, so every sharp and flat is right.
Major scales
- C major
- G major
- D major
- A major
- E major
- B major
- F♯ major
- C♯ major
- F major
- B♭ major
- E♭ major
- A♭ major
- D♭ major
- G♭ major
Minor scales
Guides
- Major scales: how they work in all 12 keys
A major scale is a row of seven notes built from the pattern whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half. Start on any note, follow the pattern,...
- Minor scales: natural, harmonic and melodic
A minor scale is a seven-note scale with a lowered third, which gives it a darker sound than major. It comes in three forms: natural, harmonic...
- Key signatures: how to read every key
A key signature is the group of sharps or flats at the start of each line of music. It tells you which notes are raised or lowered all through the...
- Circle of fifths: how it works and its uses
The circle of fifths is a diagram of the twelve keys arranged in a ring. Moving clockwise goes up a perfect fifth and adds a sharp. Moving...
- Relative minor and relative major keys
Every major key has a relative minor that shares its key signature. The relative minor starts on the sixth note of the major scale, three half...
- Harmonic minor scale: formula and sound
The harmonic minor scale is the natural minor scale with the seventh note raised by a half step. That makes a step and a half between the sixth...
- Melodic minor scale: formula, sound and use
The melodic minor scale raises the sixth and seventh notes of natural minor when going up. Classical musicians usually play natural minor coming...
- The pentatonic scale: major and minor explained
A pentatonic scale has five notes per octave. The major pentatonic is 1 2 3 5 6 and sounds open and happy. The minor pentatonic is 1 ♭3 4 5 ♭7 and...
- Major pentatonic scale: formula and uses
The major pentatonic scale has five notes: 1 2 3 5 6. In C it is C D E G A. It is the major scale without its fourth and seventh notes, and it...
- Minor pentatonic scale: formula and uses
The minor pentatonic scale has five notes: 1 ♭3 4 5 ♭7. In A it is A C D E G. It is the most common scale for rock and blues guitar solos, and it...
- Blues scale: notes, formula and sound
The blues scale is the minor pentatonic scale plus one extra note, the flat fifth, also called the blue note. The formula is 1 ♭3 4 ♭5 5 ♭7. In A...
- Chromatic scale: all 12 notes explained
The chromatic scale uses all twelve notes in an octave, each a half step from the next. On a piano it means playing every key, black and white, in...
- Music modes: the seven modes explained
The seven modes are scales that use the same notes as the major scale but start on a different note: Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian,...
- Dorian mode: notes, sound and examples
Dorian is a minor-sounding mode with a raised sixth. Its formula is 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7. On the white keys it runs from D to D. Its bright sixth makes...
- Phrygian mode: notes, sound and examples
Phrygian is a dark, minor-sounding mode with a lowered second. Its formula is 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7. On the white keys it runs from E to E. The half...
- Lydian mode: notes, sound and examples
Lydian is a bright, major-sounding mode with a raised fourth. Its formula is 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7. On the white keys it runs from F to F. The raised...
- Mixolydian mode: notes, sound and examples
Mixolydian is a major-sounding mode with a lowered seventh. Its formula is 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7. On the white keys it runs from G to G. It is the scale...
- Aeolian mode: notes, sound and examples
Aeolian is the sixth mode of the major scale, and it is the same as the natural minor scale. Its formula is 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7. On the white keys it...
- Locrian mode: notes, sound and examples
Locrian is the seventh mode of the major scale, and the darkest of the seven. Its formula is 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7. On the white keys it runs from B...