Piano scales explorer
Choose a root and a scale type to see it on the keys, hear it, and get the chords that belong to it.
C major scale full page →
All major and minor scales
Scale types and their step patterns
| Scale | Pattern | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| major | W W H W W W H | bright, resolved |
| natural minor | W H W W H W W | dark, song-like |
| harmonic minor | W H W W H W+H H | exotic, strong pull home |
| melodic minor | W H W W W W H | smooth, jazzy |
| major pentatonic | W W W+H W W+H | open, folk and pop |
| minor pentatonic | W+H W W W+H W | rock and blues solos |
| blues | W+H W H H W+H W | gritty, the ♭5 “blue note” |
| Dorian | W H W W W H W | minor with a hopeful 6th |
| Mixolydian | W W H W W H W | major with a bluesy ♭7 |
W = whole step (two keys), H = half step (next key), W+H = a step and a half. The seven church modes get their own modes explainer, and the relative minor page shows which major and minor scales share their notes.
Questions
What is a scale on the piano?
A scale is a set of notes played in order within one octave, defined by its pattern of whole steps (two keys apart) and half steps (adjacent keys). The major scale’s pattern is W–W–H–W–W–W–H; start it on any key and you get that key’s major scale.
Which piano scales should I learn first?
Start with C major (all white keys), then G, D and F major, which add one sharp or flat at a time. Learn A minor next — it shares C major’s notes. Pentatonic and blues scales are great next steps for improvising.
What is the difference between natural, harmonic and melodic minor?
Natural minor is the plain minor scale (A–B–C–D–E–F–G). Harmonic minor raises the 7th (G♯ in A minor) to create a strong pull to the tonic. Melodic minor raises both the 6th and 7th going up (F♯ and G♯) for a smoother melodic line; in classical practice it reverts to natural minor coming down.
How many scales are there?
There are 12 major and 12 natural minor scales — one on each note — plus harmonic and melodic minor, the seven modes, pentatonic, blues and many more. This explorer covers nine of the most useful types in all 12 keys (108 scales).