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.

root note:

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

root note:

Piano Samples

The piano samples used for this diatonic scale reference tool are from “ Salamander Grand Piano V3 ” by Alexander Holm, licensed under CC BY 3.0.

Major (Ionian)

Major scale pattern

Dorian

Dorian pattern

Phrygian

Phrygian pattern

Lydian

Lydian pattern

Mixolydian

Mixolydian pattern

Natural Minor (Aeolian)

Minor scale pattern

Locrian

Locrian pattern

Piano Samples

App Recommendation: Chordwatch