About the Music Scale Generator
Choose a root note and a scale type and this generator lists the notes of the scale spelled the way they appear in sheet music, the pattern of whole and half steps, the scale-degree formula (1 2 ♭3 4 5…), and — for seven-note scales — the triads and seventh chords built on every degree. It covers major and the three minor scales, all seven church modes (Ionian through Locrian), major and minor pentatonic, the blues scale, whole-tone and chromatic scales.
It is meant for guitarists and pianists learning scales, improvisers choosing notes over a chord, songwriters building progressions and theory students checking their work. For modes, it also tells you the parent major scale, which is often the quickest way to find the notes on an instrument (D Dorian uses the notes of C major).
Every seven-note scale uses each letter name once, so you will see E♯ in C♯ major and a double sharp (written F♯♯) in G♯ harmonic minor rather than enharmonic shortcuts. Frequencies are given for the scale starting in octave 4 with A4 = 440 Hz.
How to use the music scale generator
- 1Choose the root (tonic) note.
- 2Choose the scale or mode.
- 3Read the notes, step pattern and degree formula.
- 4Use the chord list or table to build progressions and find chord tones.
Formula and method
Each scale is stored as a list of semitone offsets from the root together with the scale degree each note represents (major = 0 2 4 5 7 9 11; natural minor = 0 2 3 5 7 8 10; Dorian = 0 2 3 5 7 9 10, and so on). The tool moves up the right number of letter names for each degree, then adds the sharps or flats needed to reach the exact pitch — that is why F major contains B♭ rather than A♯.
Triads come from stacking every other scale note (1-3-5, 2-4-6…) and classifying the result by its semitone sizes: 4+3 = major, 3+4 = minor, 3+3 = diminished, 4+4 = augmented. Adding the next third gives the seventh chord. Frequencies use equal temperament, f = 440 × 2^((m − 69)/12).
- W / H
- Whole step (2 semitones) / half step (1 semitone)
- ♭3, ♯4…
- Degree lowered or raised relative to the major scale
Worked examples
A natural minor
A natural minor uses only white keys, following the pattern W-H-W-W-H-W-W. Its chords are Am, B°, C, Dm, Em, F and G, and it is the relative minor of C major.
D Dorian
Dorian is a minor scale with a natural 6th. D Dorian has the same notes as C major started on D, so its parent major scale is C.
E minor pentatonic
The minor pentatonic keeps degrees 1, ♭3, 4, 5 and ♭7. E minor pentatonic — E G A B D — is the most-played guitar soloing scale and shares its notes with G major pentatonic.
G♯ harmonic minor (double sharp)
Harmonic minor raises the 7th degree. In G♯ minor the 7th is F♯, so raising it gives F double-sharp (written F♯♯ here), which sounds like G but keeps one note per letter.
Frequently asked questions
What is the formula for a major scale?+
Whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half (W-W-H-W-W-W-H). Starting on C gives C D E F G A B C with no sharps or flats; starting on any other note requires sharps or flats to keep the same pattern.
What are the seven modes?+
Ionian (major), Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian (natural minor) and Locrian. Each starts on a different degree of the major scale, so C Ionian, D Dorian, E Phrygian, F Lydian, G Mixolydian, A Aeolian and B Locrian share the same notes.
What is the difference between natural, harmonic and melodic minor?+
Natural minor is 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7. Harmonic minor raises the 7th (giving a major V chord and a leading tone). Melodic minor raises both the 6th and 7th going up, smoothing the gap that harmonic minor creates.
What notes are in the blues scale?+
The minor blues scale is the minor pentatonic plus a ♭5 "blue note": 1 ♭3 4 ♭5 5 ♭7. In A that is A C D E♭ E G; in E it is E G A B♭ B D.
Why does the scale show E♯ or double sharps?+
Seven-note scales use each letter exactly once. C♯ major therefore needs E♯ and B♯ (not F and C), and G♯ harmonic minor needs F double-sharp. This spelling matches how the music is written and makes chords easier to read.