Scale Recognition

The brightest, most stable scale in Western music. The foundation of tonal harmony — every key signature is built around it.

The darker counterpart to the major scale. Melancholic, introspective, and widely used across classical, rock, and pop.

A natural minor scale with a raised 7th degree. Creates a distinctive augmented 2nd interval and a strong leading tone pull back to the root.

Raises both the 6th and 7th degrees of natural minor when ascending. Beloved in jazz for its unique modal system.

The 2nd mode of the major scale. Minor-sounding but with a raised 6th, giving it a bright, funky quality compared to natural minor.

The 3rd mode of the major scale. Starts with a half step, giving it a dark, Spanish or Flamenco character.

The 4th mode of the major scale. Like major but with a raised 4th — giving it a dreamy, floating, otherworldly quality.

The 5th mode of the major scale. Like major but with a flat 7th — giving it a bluesy, rock character.

The 7th mode of the major scale. The only mode with a diminished 5th — making it highly unstable and rarely used as a tonal center.

A five-note scale removing the 4th and 7th from the major scale. Universal and pleasing — found in folk music across every culture.

The 5-note minor scale — the foundation of blues, rock, and virtually all guitar soloing. Extremely common and instantly recognisable.

The minor pentatonic with an added flat 5th (the 'blue note'). The defining scale of blues and rock — raw, expressive, and instantly recognisable.

A 6-note scale made entirely of whole steps. Completely symmetric — it has no leading tone, no clear tonal center, and an ethereal, floating quality.

An 8-note symmetric scale alternating half and whole steps. Used extensively in jazz over diminished and dominant chords.

An 8-note symmetric scale alternating whole and half steps. The inverse of the H-W diminished — slightly different flavour but equally symmetric.

The 5th mode of the harmonic minor scale. Has a strong Middle-Eastern, Spanish Flamenco, or Jewish character due to its augmented 2nd.

Also called the Double Harmonic Minor. Has two augmented 2nd intervals, creating an intensely exotic and dramatic sound.

The 4th mode of the melodic minor scale. Combines the Lydian raised 4th with a Mixolydian flat 7th — a favourite in jazz and fusion.