A scale is a collection of musical notes, which are generally played sequentially and ordered by pitch. Scales are defined by their first note (the root) and its relationship to the following notes (intervals). In their most common form, scales contain seven notes spanning a single octave. These seven degrees are lettered A-G. Additionally, a mode is simply a rotation of any given

Diatonic Modes

Diatonic scales are by far the most common type in Western music. They are defined by a specific sequence of seven intervals containing five whole-steps and two half-steps. The most common form of the diatonic scale is the Major scale (AKA the Ionian mode), which follows the pattern W-W-W-H-W-W-H.

Name	Intervals
Ionian	P1		M2		M3	P4		P5		M6		M7
Dorian	P1		M2	m3		P4		P5		M6	m7
Phrygian	P1	m2		m3		P4		P5	m6		m7
Lydian	P1		M2		M3		A4	P5		M6		M7
Mixolydian	P1		M2		M3	P4		P5		M6	m7
Aeolian	P1		M2	m3		P4		P5	m6		m7
Locrian	P1	m2		m3		P4	d5		m6		m7

Harmonic Minor Modes

The Harmonic Minor scale is a slight variation of the Natural Minor scale (which itself is just a mode of the Diatonic scale). The only difference is that the seventh degree is raised a half-step, creating a Major 7th interval instead of a Minor 7th. This slight variation to the diatonic scale creates seven more unique modes.

Name	Intervals
Harmonic Minor	P1		M2	m3		P4		P5	m6			M7
Locrian 6	P1	m2		m3		P4	d5			M6	m7
Ionian #5	P1		M2		M3	P4			A5	M6		M7
Dorian #4	P1		M2	m3			A4	P5		M6	m7
Phrygian Dominant	P1	m2			M3	P4		P5	m6		m7
Lydian #2	P1			A2	M3		A4	P5		M6		M7
Super Locrian bb7	P1	m2		m3	d4		d5		m6	d7

Melodic Minor Modes

The Melodic Minor scale is formed by making one additional change to the Harmonic Minor scale. We simply raise the sixth degree by a half-step, creating a Major 6th interval instead of a Major 7th. This variation also creates seven unique modes.

Name	Intervals
Melodic Minor	P1		M2	m3		P4		P5		M6		M7
Dorian b2	P1	m2		m3		P4		P5		M6	m7
Lydian #5	P1		M2		M3		A4		A5	M6		M7
Lydian Dominant	P1		M2		M3		A4	P5		M6	m7
Mixolydian b6	P1		M2		M3	P4		P5	m6		m7
Aeolian b5	P1		M2	m3		P4	d5		m6		m7
Super Locrian	P1	m2		m3	d4		d5		m6		m7

Pentatonic Modes

Pentatonic scales contain only five notes and are often a subset of diatonic scales. For example, the Major Pentatonic scale is the same as a Major Diatonic scale without the 4th and 7th degrees.

Name	Intervals
Major Pentatonic	P1	M2		M3		P5		M6
Egyptian	P1	M2			P4	P5			m7
Man Gong	P1		m3		P4		m6		m7
Ritusen	P1	M2			P4	P5		M6
Minor Pentatonic	P1		m3		P4	P5			m7

Blues Scales

Blues scales are pentatonic scales with an extra "blue" note.

Name	Intervals
Major Blues	P1		M2	m3	M3			P5		M6
Minor Blues	P1			m3		P4	d5	P5			m7

Bebob Scales

Bebop scales are diatonic scales with an extra chomatic passing note.

Name	Intervals
Dominant Bebob	P1		M2		M3	P4		P5		M6	m7	M7
Major Bebob	P1		M2		M3	P4		P5	m6	M6		M7