Scale/Mode

 

A series of pitches (tones, notes) described in terms of:

 

½ step

"½"

1 step

"1"

1½ step

"1½"

scale name

definition

N

N

N

 

 

Y

N

N

chromatic

 

N

Y

N

whole-tone

 

N

N

Y

diminished 7 chord

 

Y

Y

N

diatonic/modal/diminished

 

Y

N

Y

 

 

N

Y

Y

pentatonic

 

Y

Y

Y

blues, hungarian, harmonic minor

 

 

A seven-note musical scale comprising five whole-tone and two half-tone steps: Diatonic Scale

Scale Types

1 - 1 - ½ - 1 - 1 -1 - ½: Major Scale

1 - ½ - 1 - 1 - ½ - 1 - 1: (Natural) Minor Scale

Variations:

1 - ½ - 1 - 1 - ½ - 1½ - ½: Harmonic Minor Scale 

Ascending: 1 - ½ - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - ½ \
                                                     ==> Melodic Minor Scale
Descending: (Natural) Minor Scale /

Scale Degrees

1: Tonic

2: Supertonic

3: Mediant

4: Subdominant

5: Dominant

6: Submediant

7: separated from tonic of the upper octave by a