Diatonic Scale: Visualize Patterns of Whole Steps & Half Steps
🎹 A diatonic scale is a 7-note scale (heptatonic scale) that has 5 whole
steps (tones) & 2 half steps (semitones) per octave. The half steps are
distributed in a way where they are surrounded by either 2 whole steps or 3
whole steps.
The diatonic scale forms the basis of Western tonal music and as such is one
of the pillars of Western music theory.
Here's an interactive tool to visualize the 7 types of diatonic scales (the
7 modes of the major scale) on the piano keyboard
as well as their pattern of whole steps and half steps.
Major (Ionian)
- C
- C♯ D♭
- D
- D♯ E♭
- E
- F
- F♯ G♭
- G
- G♯ A♭
- A
- A♯ B♭
- B
- C
- C♯ D♭
- D
- D♯ E♭
- E
- F
- F♯ G♭
- G
- G♯ A♭
- A
- A♯ B♭
- B
- C
notes:
Major scale pattern
- Whole
- Whole
- Half
- Whole
- Whole
- Whole
- Half
Dorian
- C
- C♯ D♭
- D
- D♯ E♭
- E
- F
- F♯ G♭
- G
- G♯ A♭
- A
- A♯ B♭
- B
- C
- C♯ D♭
- D
- D♯ E♭
- E
- F
- F♯ G♭
- G
- G♯ A♭
- A
- A♯ B♭
- B
- C
notes:
Dorian pattern
- Whole
- Half
- Whole
- Whole
- Whole
- Half
- Whole
Phrygian
- C
- C♯ D♭
- D
- D♯ E♭
- E
- F
- F♯ G♭
- G
- G♯ A♭
- A
- A♯ B♭
- B
- C
- C♯ D♭
- D
- D♯ E♭
- E
- F
- F♯ G♭
- G
- G♯ A♭
- A
- A♯ B♭
- B
- C
notes:
Phrygian pattern
- Half
- Whole
- Whole
- Whole
- Half
- Whole
- Whole
Lydian
- C
- C♯ D♭
- D
- D♯ E♭
- E
- F
- F♯ G♭
- G
- G♯ A♭
- A
- A♯ B♭
- B
- C
- C♯ D♭
- D
- D♯ E♭
- E
- F
- F♯ G♭
- G
- G♯ A♭
- A
- A♯ B♭
- B
- C
notes:
Lydian pattern
- Whole
- Whole
- Whole
- Half
- Whole
- Whole
- Half
Mixolydian
- C
- C♯ D♭
- D
- D♯ E♭
- E
- F
- F♯ G♭
- G
- G♯ A♭
- A
- A♯ B♭
- B
- C
- C♯ D♭
- D
- D♯ E♭
- E
- F
- F♯ G♭
- G
- G♯ A♭
- A
- A♯ B♭
- B
- C
notes:
Mixolydian pattern
- Whole
- Whole
- Half
- Whole
- Whole
- Half
- Whole
Natural Minor (Aeolian)
- C
- C♯ D♭
- D
- D♯ E♭
- E
- F
- F♯ G♭
- G
- G♯ A♭
- A
- A♯ B♭
- B
- C
- C♯ D♭
- D
- D♯ E♭
- E
- F
- F♯ G♭
- G
- G♯ A♭
- A
- A♯ B♭
- B
- C
notes:
Minor scale pattern
- Whole
- Half
- Whole
- Whole
- Half
- Whole
- Whole
Locrian
- C
- C♯ D♭
- D
- D♯ E♭
- E
- F
- F♯ G♭
- G
- G♯ A♭
- A
- A♯ B♭
- B
- C
- C♯ D♭
- D
- D♯ E♭
- E
- F
- F♯ G♭
- G
- G♯ A♭
- A
- A♯ B♭
- B
- C
notes:
Locrian pattern
- Half
- Whole
- Whole
- Half
- Whole
- Whole
- Whole
