3 Families of Scales - Major, Minor, Dominant

Scales can be generally divided into 3 families - major scales, minor scales, and dominant scales. While there are other scales that don't fit into any of these three catagories, understanding the function of the major, minor, and dominant scales will develop a solid musical foundation from which you'll be able to interpret and apply any scale.

Tonality - Scale Structure

Note Names

C

Db

D

Eb

E

F

F#

G

Ab

A

Bb

B

C Major Scale

1

_

2

_

3

4

_

5

_

6

_

7

C Minor Scale

1

_

2

b3

_

4

_

5

b6

_

b7

_

C Dominant Scale

1

_

2

_

3

4

_

5

_

6

b7

_

12 Tone Octave illustrating Intervals ( _ ) in relation to Scale Notes (#)

Western Modes

Modality - Chord Structure

Ionian	I	ii	iii	IV	V	vi	vii
Dorian	ii	iii	IV	V	vi	vii	I
Phrygian	iii	IV	V	vi	vii	I	ii
Lydian	IV	V	vi	vii	I	ii	iii
Mixolydian	V	vi	vii	I	ii	iii	IV
Aeolian	vi	vii	I	ii	iii	IV	V
Locrian	vii	I	ii	iii	IV	V	vi

Upper case indicates a Major Chord

Lower case indicates a Minor Chord

Tonality - Scale Structure

Key of C

C

Db

D

Eb

E

F

F#

G

Ab

A

Bb

B

Ionian

1

_

2

_

3

4

_

5

_

6

_

7

Dorian

1

_

2

b3

_

4

_

5

_

6

b7

_

Phrygian

1

b2

_

b3

_

4

_

5

b6

_

b7

_

Lydian

1

_

2

_

3

_

#4

5

_

6

_

7

Mixolydian

1

_

2

_

3

4

_

5

_

6

b7

_

Aeolian

1

_

2

b3

_

4

_

5

b6

_

b7

_

Locrian

1

b2

_

b3

_

4

b5

_

b6

_

b7

_

Note Names of the Modes

in the Key of C

Ionian	C	D	E	F	G	A	B
Dorian	D	E	F	G	A	B	C
Phrygian	E	F	G	A	B	C	D
Lydian	F	G	A	B	C	D	E
Mixolydian	G	A	B	C	D	E	F
Aeolian	A	B	C	D	E	F	G
Locrian	B	C	D	E	F	G	A

Bold note names are the root note of that mode

Circle of Fifths