Appendix · Appendix: Scale Reference

Scale Construction Table

The table below shows the scale tones and structure for every scale covered in this book. Alternative names are shown in parentheses. Tonal numbers reflect the note’s position in relation to the tones of the major scale. The letter “w” stands for an interval of a “whole step” (two frets) and the letter “h” stands for an interval of a “half step” (one fret).

Scale nameTonesStructure
major1 2 3 4 5 6 7w, w, h, w, w, w, h
natural minor1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7w, h, w, w, h, w, w
major pentatonic1 2 3 5 6w, w, w+h, w, w+h
minor pentatonic1 ♭3 4 5 ♭7w+h, w, w, w+h, w
blues1 ♭3 4 ♭5 5 ♭7w+h, w, h, h, w+h, w
major blues1 2 ♭3 3 4 ♭5 5 6 ♭7w, h, h, h, h, h, w, h, w
minor blues1 2 ♭3 4 ♭5 5 ♭6 ♭7w, h, w, h, h, h, w, w
Ionian mode (major)1 2 3 4 5 6 7w, w, h, w, w, w, h
Dorian mode1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7w, h, w, w, w, h, w
Phrygian mode1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7h, w, w, w, h, w, w
Lydian mode1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7w, w, w, h, w, w, h
Mixolydian mode1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7w, w, h, w, w, h, w
Aeolian mode (nat. minor)1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7w, h, w, w, h, w, w
Locrian mode1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7h, w, w, h, w, w, w
harmonic minor (Mohammedan)1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7w, h, w, w, h, w+h, h
Phrygian-dominant (major Phrygian, Spanish-flamenco)1 ♭2 3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7h, w+h, h, w, h, w, w
Jazz melodic minor1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 7w, h, w, w, w, w, h
Dorian ♭21 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7h, w, w, w, w, h, w
Lydian augmented1 2 3 ♯4 ♯5 6 7w, w, w, w, h, w, h
Lydian ♭7 (overtone)1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 ♭7w, w, w, h, w, h, w
Mixolydian ♭13 (Hindu)1 2 3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7w, w, h, w, h, w, w
Locrian ♯21 2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7w, h, w, h, w, w, w
super Locrian (altered)1 ♭2 ♭3 ♭4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7h, w, h, w, w, w, w
chromatic1 ♭2 2 ♭3 3 4 ♭5 5 ♭6 6 ♭7 7h × 12
whole tone1 2 3 ♯4 ♯5 ♯6w, w, w, w, w, w
whole half diminished1 2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 6 7w, h, w, h, w, h, w, h
half whole diminished1 ♭2 ♭3 ♭4 ♭5 5 6 ♭7h, w, h, w, h, w, h, w
enigmatic1 ♭2 3 ♯4 ♯5 ♯6 7h, w+h, w, w, w, h, h
double harmonic (gypsy, Byzantine)1 ♭2 3 4 5 ♭6 7h, w+h, h, w, h, w+h, h
Hungarian minor1 2 ♭3 ♯4 5 ♭6 7w, h, w+h, h, h, w+h, h
Persian1 ♭2 3 4 ♭5 ♭6 7h, w+h, h, h, w, w+h, h
Arabian (major Locrian)1 2 3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7w, w, h, h, w, w, w
Japanese1 ♭2 4 5 ♭6h, w+w, w, h, w+w
Egyptian1 2 4 5 ♭7w, w+h, w, w+h, w
Hirajoshi1 2 ♭3 5 ♭6w, h, w+w, h, w+w