Formulas for Scales and Modes
The charts below give the formulas for common scales and modes. The numbers represent degrees of the major scale. Sharps and flats are used to indicate that a degree should be raised or lowered to create a given scale.
Scales
| Scale |
Formula |
| blues |
1 b3 4 b5 5 b7 |
| harmonic minor |
1 2 3 4 5 6 #7 |
| major |
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 |
| major pentatonic |
1 2 3 5 6 |
| melodic minor |
1 2 3 4 5 #6 #7 |
| minor |
1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 |
| minor pentatonic |
1 b3 4 5 b7 |
Modes
| Mode |
Formula |
| Ionian |
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 |
| Dorian |
1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7 |
| Phrygian |
1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 |
| Lydian |
1 2 3 #4 5 6 7 |
| Mixolydian |
1 2 3 4 5 6 b7 |
| Aeolian |
1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 |
| Locrian |
1 b2 b3 4 b5 b6 b7 |
