Scale Finder
The notes of any scale, its degree formula, and the chords that come out of it.
Runs entirely in your browser. Nothing is uploaded, logged or stored.
Major (Ionian)
C D E F G A B
Formula: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | perfect unison | 0 |
| 2 | D | major second | 2 |
| 3 | E | major third | 4 |
| 4 | F | perfect fourth | 5 |
| 5 | G | perfect fifth | 7 |
| 6 | A | major sixth | 9 |
| 7 | B | major seventh | 11 |
Chords in this scale
| Degree | Triad | Seventh chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | C | Cmaj7 | C E G |
| ii | Dm | Dm7 | D F A |
| iii | Em | Em7 | E G B |
| IV | F | Fmaj7 | F A C |
| V | G | G7 | G B D |
| vi | Am | Am7 | A C E |
| vii° | Bdim | Bm7♭5 | B D F |
Pick a tonic and a scale to see its notes, the degree formula behind it, and — for the seven-note scales — every chord that can be built inside it. That last table is what turns a scale into something you can write with.
How it works
A scale is a list of intervals from its tonic, so applying it to a note gives both the pitches and their spelling. Every seven-note scale uses each letter exactly once, which is why F sharp major needs an E sharp: calling it F would put two notes on the same letter and leave the letter E unused.
The chords are not looked up in a table. They are built by stacking thirds inside the scale itself: take a degree, skip one, take the next, and so on. That is why the same procedure gives the familiar chords of the major scale and the right, less familiar ones for harmonic minor.
Examples
| Case | Input | Result |
|---|---|---|
| The chords of C major | C major | C Dm Em F G Am Bdim |
| Why harmonic minor has a major dominant | A harmonic minor | the fifth degree is E7, not Em7 |
Frequently asked questions
Why does my scale have a double sharp?
Because the letter it falls on is already sharp in that key. D sharp harmonic minor needs a C double sharp for its leading note; the alternative would be to write D, which is the wrong letter and would make the scale unreadable.
Where are the chords for the pentatonic scales?
Stacking thirds needs seven degrees to work with. A pentatonic has five and a blues scale six, so no chord table is shown rather than one that would be invented.
Are major and Ionian the same thing?
Yes, the same seven notes under two names, and they are listed once for that reason. The same goes for natural minor and Aeolian.
Good to know
- The notes and the chords come from one engine, so this page cannot disagree with the chord finder, the fretboard or the circle of fifths about the same scale.
- Only scales in the catalogue are offered. One you use that is missing is a gap in the catalogue rather than a claim that it is not a scale.