Scales and modes
Pick a starting note and a scale. The keyboard lights up the notes, the step pattern appears underneath, and you hear it up and down.
C Major (Ionian)
C D E F G A B
- W
- W
- H
- W
- W
- W
- H
Bright and settled. Pattern W–W–H–W–W–W–H.
Why scales follow patterns
An octave on the piano has 12 semitones. A seven-note scale picks seven of them, and the choice of where the half steps fall gives each scale its colour. The major scale puts half steps between degrees 3–4 and 7–8, which is why the 7th pulls so strongly up to the tonic.
Modes reuse the major scale’s pattern starting from a different point. Set the builder to D Dorian and you will see exactly the white keys of C major; the difference is purely which note feels like home.
Scale degree names
| Degree | Name | In C Major (Ionian) | Solfège (movable do, major) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | C | Do |
| 2 | Supertonic | D | Re |
| 3 | Mediant | E | Mi |
| 4 | Subdominant | F | Fa |
| 5 | Dominant | G | Sol |
| 6 | Submediant | A | La |
| 7 | Leading note | B | Ti |
Major and minor key signatures
Every major scale has a relative minor that shares its notes and key signature: go down three semitones from the major tonic. C major and A minor both have no sharps or flats. Browse all 15 pairs on the key signatures page or around the circle of fifths, then train your ear with scale ear training.
Questions
What is the major scale formula?
Whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half (W–W–H–W–W–W–H). Starting on C it gives C D E F G A B C, all white keys.
What is the difference between natural, harmonic and melodic minor?
Natural minor follows W–H–W–W–H–W–W. Harmonic minor raises the 7th degree to create a leading note. Melodic minor raises both the 6th and 7th on the way up and, in classical usage, returns to natural minor on the way down.
What are the modes in music?
The seven modes are the scales you get by starting the major scale on each of its degrees: Ionian (1), Dorian (2), Phrygian (3), Lydian (4), Mixolydian (5), Aeolian (6) and Locrian (7). D Dorian uses the same notes as C major, but centres on D.
What are scale degrees?
Scale degrees number the notes of a scale from the tonic: 1 tonic, 2 supertonic, 3 mediant, 4 subdominant, 5 dominant, 6 submediant, 7 leading note (or subtonic when it is a whole step below the tonic).
Why does every scale letter appear once?
Seven-note scales are spelled with each letter name exactly once. That is why F major has B♭ rather than A♯: using A♯ would repeat A and skip B.