Quick Guides: Scales and Modes

LinkedMusicians Quick Guides are designed to get you up to speed quickly on key concepts in music and recording production and post-production.

what are the notes in each of the major and minor scales in western music?

In Western music, there are 12 major scales and 12 minor scales, each starting on a different note. Here are the notes for each scale:

Major Scales:

1. C Major: C D E F G A B

2. G Major: G A B C D E F#

3. D Major: D E F# G A B C#

4. A Major: A B C# D E F# G#

5. E Major: E F# G# A B C# D#

6. B Major: B C# D# E F# G# A#

7. F# Major: F# G# A# B C# D# E#

8. C# Major: C# D# E# F# G# A# B#

9. F Major: F G A Bb C D E

10. Bb Major: Bb C D Eb F G A

11. Eb Major: Eb F G Ab Bb C D

12. Ab Major: Ab Bb C Db Eb F G

Natural Minor Scales:

1. A Minor: A B C D E F G

2. E Minor: E F# G A B C D

3. B Minor: B C# D E F# G A

4. F# Minor: F# G# A B C# D E

5. C# Minor: C# D# E F# G# A B

6. G# Minor: G# A# B C# D# E F#

7. D# Minor: D# E# F# G# A# B C#

8. A# Minor: A# B# C# D# E# F# G#

9. D Minor: D E F G A Bb C

10. G Minor: G A Bb C D Eb F

11. C Minor: C D Eb F G Ab Bb

12. F Minor: F G Ab Bb C Db Eb

what are the notes in each of the harmonic, and melodic minor scales?

Here are the notes for the harmonic and melodic minor scales:

Harmonic Minor Scales:

1. A Harmonic Minor: A B C D E F G#

2. E Harmonic Minor: E F# G A B C D#

3. B Harmonic Minor: B C# D E F# G A#

4. F# Harmonic Minor: F# G# A B C# D E#

5. C# Harmonic Minor: C# D# E F# G# A B#

6. G# Harmonic Minor: G# A# B C# D# E F##

7. D# Harmonic Minor: D# E# F# G# A# B C##

8. A# Harmonic Minor: A# B# C# D# E# F# G##

9. D Harmonic Minor: D E F G A Bb C#

10. G Harmonic Minor: G A Bb C D Eb F#

11. C Harmonic Minor: C D Eb F G Ab B

12. F Harmonic Minor: F G Ab Bb C Db E

Melodic Minor Scales (ascending):

1. A Melodic Minor: A B C D E F# G#

2. E Melodic Minor: E F# G A B C# D#

3. B Melodic Minor: B C# D E F# G# A#

4. F# Melodic Minor: F# G# A B C# D# E#

5. C# Melodic Minor: C# D# E F# G# A# B#

6. G# Melodic Minor: G# A# B C# D# E# F##

7. D# Melodic Minor: D# E# F# G# A# B# C##

8. A# Melodic Minor: A# B# C# D# E# F## G##

9. D Melodic Minor: D E F G A B C#

10. G Melodic Minor: G A Bb C D E F#

11. C Melodic Minor: C D Eb F G A B

12. F Melodic Minor: F G Ab Bb C D E

Note that the melodic minor scale typically descends using the natural minor scale.

How does the melodic minor scale differ when ascending and descending

The melodic minor scale differs in its ascending and descending forms:

Ascending:

– Uses the formula: 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 7

– Raises the 6th and 7th scale degrees compared to the natural minor scale

Descending:

– Uses the same notes as the natural minor scale: 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7

– Lowers the 6th and 7th scale degrees back to their natural minor form

For example, in A melodic minor:

– Ascending: A B C D E F# G#

– Descending: A G F E D C B A

This difference originated to solve melodic issues in classical composition:

1. The raised 6th and 7th when ascending provide smoother voice leading to the tonic[2].

2. The natural 6th and 7th when descending avoid the augmented second interval found in the harmonic minor scale.

In jazz and modern contexts, the ascending form is often used both up and down[5]. However, in traditional classical theory, the scale changes depending on direction to balance melodic smoothness with the minor tonality.

Modes

In Western music, there are seven traditional modes, each with its unique pattern of intervals. Here are the notes for each mode when starting on the note C:

Ionian (Major Scale)

– Notes: C D E F G A B C

– Intervals: Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half

Dorian

– Notes: D E F G A B C D

– Intervals: Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole

Phrygian

– Notes: E F G A B C D E

– Intervals: Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole

Lydian

– Notes: F G A B C D E F

– Intervals: Whole, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Half

Mixolydian

– Notes: G A B C D E F G

– Intervals: Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole

Aeolian (Natural Minor Scale)

– Notes: A B C D E F G A

– Intervals: Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole

Locrian

-Notes: B C D E F G A B

– Intervals: Half, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole

Each mode has a distinct sound and character due to its unique sequence of intervals