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Complete Scale Theory Guide

42 scale guides covering every scale type used in music production, guitar, bass, ukulele, and theory. From beginner pentatonic to advanced exotic scales.

Scale Guides

20+

Scale Types

Guitar Position Guides

All 12

Keys Covered

Step 1: Find the Key of Your Track

Before choosing a scale, detect the key using BeatKey. Free, browser-based, no account.

Detect Key Free at BeatKey.app

Core Scales

The essential scales every musician and producer should know first.

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The 7 Modes

Modes are scales derived from the major scale by starting on a different degree. Each mode has a distinct character and set of uses.

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Ionian (Major)

Pop, Country, Classical

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Dorian

Intermediate

Mode 2

1-2-b3-4-5-6-b7

Soulful, minor but bright

Hip-Hop, Jazz, Funk, R&B

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Phrygian

Flamenco, Metal, Dark Trap

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Lydian

Film Score, Neo-Soul, Prog

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Mixolydian

Rock, Country, Blues-Rock

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Aeolian (Natural Minor)

Locrian

Jazz ii chord, Metal, Film

Quick Mode Tip: All 7 modes use the same notes as their parent major scale but start from a different root. D Dorian, for example, uses the exact same notes as C major but is built on D. The most useful modes for producers are Dorian (hip-hop, funk), Mixolydian (rock, country), and Lydian (film scores, neo-soul).

Minor Scale Types

Three distinct types of minor scales, each with a different character and use.

🌙 Natural Minor Beginner

1-2-b3-4-5-b6-b7

The most common minor scale. Aeolian mode.

Rock, Metal, Pop, Hip-Hop

🎻 Harmonic Minor Intermediate

1-2-b3-4-5-b6-7

Raised 7th creates a major V chord. Classical minor.

Classical, Flamenco, Neoclassical Metal

🎷 Melodic Minor Advanced

1-2-b3-4-5-6-7

Raised 6th and 7th ascending. Jazz minor.

Jazz, Classical, Neo-Soul, Fusion

Advanced and Exotic Scales

Symmetric scales, exotic modes, and advanced options for jazz, metal, film, and world music.

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Whole Tone Scale

Advanced

1-2-3-#4-#5-b7

Dreamy, floating, unresolved

Jazz, Film Score, Lo-Fi, Impressionist

Only 2 unique shapes. All whole steps.

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Diminished Scale

Advanced

1-2-b3-4-b5-b6-6-7 (WH)

Tense, dark, chromatic

Jazz, Metal, Film Score, Bebop

Only 3 unique shapes. 2 types: whole-half and half-whole.

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Phrygian Dominant

Advanced

1-b2-3-4-5-b6-b7

Exotic, Spanish, Middle Eastern

Flamenco, Klezmer, Metal, Film Score

Mode 5 of harmonic minor. The "exotic" scale.

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Music Modes Overview

Intermediate

All 7 modes explained

Comprehensive reference

All genres

Quick comparison of all 7 modes: mood, formula, and best use.

Interactive Scale Tools

Free browser-based tools to visualize scales on piano, guitar, bass, and ukulele.

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Scale Finder

Primary Tool

Select any root note and explore 18 scales. Shows notes, intervals, and usage for any key.

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Scale Visualizer (Piano)

Interactive

2-octave piano keyboard visualization for any scale. See highlighted notes with degree labels.

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Guitar Scale Chart

Interactive

Interactive fretboard for 9 scale types. 12 root notes, full neck view, CAGED system.

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Circle of Fifths

Interactive

Interactive Circle of Fifths with Camelot codes. Click any key to see compatible keys highlighted.

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Bass Scale Chart

Interactive

Interactive bass guitar fretboard for essential bass scales. All 12 root notes.

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Ukulele Scale Chart

Interactive

Interactive ukulele fretboard for pentatonic, major, minor, and mode scales.

Guitar Scale Position Guides

14 complete guitar scale guides, each with 5 fretboard positions (or unique shapes for symmetric scales), all 12 keys, genre guides, and technique tips.

View complete Guitar Scale Guide hub on beatkey.app →

Recommended Learning Order

Not sure where to start? Follow this 10-step path from beginner to advanced.

Minor Pentatonic Scale Beginner

Only 5 notes. Works over almost any minor key progression. The foundation.

Blues Scale Beginner

Pentatonic + blue note. Instant soul and expression. One note changes everything.

Natural Minor Scale (Aeolian) Beginner

The full 7-note minor scale. Opens up more melodic possibilities.

Major Scale (Ionian) Beginner

The reference for all Western music theory. Essential for understanding modes.

Dorian Mode Intermediate

Minor but brighter. The most used mode in hip-hop, jazz, and funk production.

Mixolydian Mode Intermediate

Major but with a flat 7th. Defines rock, country, and blues-rock.

Phrygian Mode Intermediate

The darkest mode. Essential for flamenco, metal, and dark atmospheric music.

Lydian Mode Intermediate

Raised 4th creates a floating, cinematic sound. Film scores, neo-soul, prog rock.

Harmonic Minor Scale Advanced

Raised 7th for classical tension. Essential for neoclassical metal and flamenco.

Melodic Minor Scale Advanced

Jazz minor. Opens up advanced harmony including the Altered Scale and Lydian Dominant.

Which Scale for Which Genre

Jump straight to the scales that work for your genre.

Genre	Go-To Scales	Key Concept
Hip-Hop / Trap	Dorian, Minor Pentatonic, Phrygian	Dark minor sounds, Dorian i7-IV7 vamp
Blues	Blues Scale, Minor Pentatonic, Major Pentatonic	Blue note tension over 12-bar blues
Rock / Metal	Natural Minor, Mixolydian, Phrygian	Aeolian riffs, Mixolydian major vibe
Jazz	Dorian, Melodic Minor, Mixolydian, Whole Tone	ii-V-i progressions, altered dominant
Film Score / Cinematic	Lydian, Phrygian, Whole Tone, Diminished	Wonder (Lydian), dread (Phrygian), tension (Diminished)
Flamenco / Spanish	Phrygian, Phrygian Dominant, Harmonic Minor	b2 tension, Andalusian cadence
Pop	Major Scale, Major Pentatonic, Mixolydian	I-V-vi-IV progressions, singable melodies
R&B / Neo-Soul	Dorian, Lydian, Melodic Minor	Rich extensions, maj7 and 9th voicings
Country	Major, Mixolydian, Major Pentatonic	Bright, twangy, bVII-I country vibe
Electronic / House	Minor Pentatonic, Dorian, Natural Minor	Simple hooklines, modal grooves

Scale Guides by Instrument

Instrument-specific scale charts with diagrams and positions.

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Guitar Scale Chart

9 scale types, full fretboard diagram, all 12 keys, CAGED system.

+ 14 individual position guides

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Bass Scale Chart

Essential bass scales with fretboard positions. Major, minor, pentatonic, blues, Dorian.

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Ukulele Scale Chart

Ukulele scale diagrams for pentatonic, major, minor, and modal scales.

View Scale Visualizer (Piano Keyboard) →

The BeatKey Scale Workflow

1️⃣

Detect the Key

Upload your track or sample to BeatKey. Get BPM, key, and Camelot code in seconds.

beatkey.app →

2️⃣

Find Your Scale

Use the Scale Finder to look up scale notes for that key. Choose from 18 scale types.

Scale Finder →

3️⃣

Visualize and Play

Open the Scale Visualizer or Guitar Scales to see exactly where to play those notes.

Scale Visualizer →

Frequently Asked Questions

What scales should a beginner learn first?

Start with the minor pentatonic scale. It has only 5 notes, works over almost any minor key progression, and is used in blues, rock, hip-hop, and pop. Then learn the blues scale (adds one note to pentatonic), followed by the natural minor scale, and then the major scale.

What is the difference between a scale and a mode?

A mode is a scale derived from another scale by starting on a different degree. The 7 modes (Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian) all use the same notes as a parent major scale but start from a different root. For example, D Dorian uses the same notes as C major but starts on D.

How many music scales are there?

Hundreds if you count all world music traditions. In Western music, the most commonly used scales are: 7 modes (major, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, natural minor, Locrian), 3 minor scale types (natural, harmonic, melodic), pentatonic (major and minor), blues scale, whole tone, diminished (2 types), and chromatic. This guide covers 20+ scale types.

How do I find what scale to use over a chord progression?

First, detect the key of the track using BeatKey (free, browser-based audio analysis). Then match the scale to the key and genre: minor pentatonic for blues/rock/hip-hop, Dorian for jazz/funk/R&B, Mixolydian for rock/country, Lydian for film scores/neo-soul, major scale for pop/country. Use the Chord Finder to identify specific chords, then choose a scale that fits those chord tones.

All Scale Theory Guides (42 Total)

Scale Finder Scale Theory Guide Music Modes Guide Major Scale Natural Minor Scale Pentatonic Scale Blues Scale Dorian Scale Phrygian Scale Lydian Scale Mixolydian Scale Locrian Scale Harmonic Minor Scale Melodic Minor Scale Diminished Scale Whole Tone Scale Phrygian Dominant Chromatic Scale Scale Visualizer (Piano) Guitar Scale Chart Bass Scale Chart Ukulele Scale Chart Circle of Fifths Pentatonic Guitar Positions Blues Scale Guitar Positions Dorian Guitar Positions Mixolydian Guitar Positions Natural Minor Guitar Positions Phrygian Guitar Positions Lydian Guitar Positions Locrian Guitar Positions Harmonic Minor Guitar Melodic Minor Guitar Phrygian Dominant Guitar Whole Tone Guitar Diminished Scale Guitar Chromatic Scale Guitar vs Music Theory Sites vs Teoria vs MusicTheory.net vs Hooktheory

The Complete BeatKey Music Suite

Free browser-based tools for BPM, key, chords, delay, scales, and frequencies.

BeatKey: BPM + Key Chord Finder Delay Calculator Scale Finder Note Frequencies