Scale Finder: Music Scales, Piano, Guitar
This scale finder shows the notes of any major, minor, mode, pentatonic, blues or other scale in all twelve keys. Choose a root note and a scale type and you get the correct note names, the interval formula, the whole and half step pattern, a two octave piano keyboard and a guitar fretboard with every note marked. Press Play to hear the scale go up and down, or download it as a WAV file. The finder works the other way as well. Tap the notes of a melody or chord progression and the tool lists every scale that contains all of them, so you can see which keys and modes fit. It is useful for songwriters, guitarists, pianists and students studying theory.
Scale Finder
Look up any music scale to see its notes, intervals, piano keys and guitar fretboard, play it, or find which scales contain your notes.
How to use the Scale Finder
- Choose a root note and a scale type.
- Read the notes, intervals and step pattern, and look at the piano and fretboard.
- Press Play to hear it, or Download WAV to keep it.
- To find a scale, tap the notes you have in the Find section and pick a result.
Features
- 17 scales including modes, pentatonic and blues
- Correct sharp and flat spelling
- Interval formula and whole or half step pattern
- Two octave piano and 12 fret guitar fretboard
- Play the scale, or download WAV
- Reverse finder from the notes you pick
Frequently asked questions
How do I find the notes of a scale?
Start on the root and follow the step pattern. The major scale is whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half. From C that gives C D E F G A B.
What is the difference between a scale and a mode?
A mode is a scale built by starting on a different degree of a parent scale. Dorian is the major scale started on its second note, so D dorian uses the same notes as C major.
Why do some notes have sharps and others flats?
Seven note scales use each letter name once, so F sharp major has E sharp instead of F. Other scales use the flat or sharp names that fit the key.
How does the scale finder work?
Select the notes you want and the tool checks all 12 roots and all scale types, listing those that contain every selected note. Select a result to view it.
Which scales are easiest to start with on guitar?
The minor pentatonic and the major pentatonic have only five notes and fit many songs. The blues scale adds one extra note to the minor pentatonic.