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    Scale Formulas, Patterns & Intervals Chart for Quick Reference

    Here's a simple reference page for the formula/pattern and intervals of a bunch of popular music scales. An easy one-pager to refresh your memory on how the different scales are built.

    With the scale formulas, Whole means Whole step (aka Whole tone) and Half means Half step (aka semitone or half tone).

    The scales covered here are the major scale, natural minor scale, melodic minor scale, harmonic minor scale, Dorian scale, Phrygian scale, Lydian Scale, Mixolydian Scale, Locrian Scale, minor pentatonic scale, major pentatonic scale, major blues scale, minor blues scale, augmented scale and diminished scale.

    Get in touch with me here if you'd like me to add formulas for more scales on this page.

    → You may also like this chart of chord formulas and intervals.

    Major Scale Formula

    Whole Whole Half Whole Whole Whole Half

    Intervals

    1 2 3 4 5 6 7
    → Major scale reference

    Natural Minor Scale Formula

    Whole Half Whole Whole Half Whole Whole

    Intervals

    1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7
    → Minor scale reference

    Melodic Minor Scale Formula

    Whole Half Whole Whole Whole Whole Half

    Intervals

    1 2 b3 4 5 6 7
    → Melodic minor scale reference

    Harmonic Minor Scale Formula

    Whole Half Whole Whole Half Whole+Half Half

    Intervals

    1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7
    → Harmonic minor scale reference

    Dorian Scale Formula

    Whole Half Whole Whole Whole Half Whole

    Intervals

    1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7
    → Dorian mode reference

    Phrygian Scale Formula

    Half Whole Whole Whole Half Whole Whole

    Intervals

    1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7
    → Phrygian mode reference

    Lydian Scale Formula

    Whole Whole Whole Half Whole Whole Half

    Intervals

    1 2 3 #4 5 6 7
    → Lydian mode reference

    Mixolydian Scale Formula

    Whole Whole Half Whole Whole Half Whole

    Intervals

    1 2 3 4 5 6 b7
    → Mixolydian mode reference

    Locrian Scale Formula

    Half Whole Whole Half Whole Whole Whole

    Intervals

    1 b2 b3 4 b5 b6 b7
    → Locrian mode reference

    Minor Pentatonic Scale Formula

    Whole+Half Whole Whole Whole+Half Whole

    Intervals

    1      b3 4 5      b7
    → Minor pentatonic scale reference

    Major Pentatonic Scale Formula

    Whole Whole Whole+Half Whole Whole+Half

    Intervals

    1 2 3      5 6     
    → Major pentatonic scale reference

    Major Blues Scale Formula

    Whole Half Half Whole+Half Whole Whole+Half

    Intervals

    1 2 b3 3      5 6
    → Major blues scale reference

    Minor Blues Scale Formula

    Whole+Half Whole Half Half Whole+Half Whole

    Intervals

    1      b3 4 b5 5 b7
    → Minor blues scale reference

    Augmented Scale Formula

    Whole+Half Half Whole+Half Half Whole+Half Half

    Intervals

    1      b3 3      5 #5 7
    → Augmented scale reference

    Diminished Scale Formula

    Whole Half Whole Half Whole Half Whole Half

    Intervals

    1 2 b3 4 b5 b6 6 7
    → Diminished scale reference
    Circle of fifths with major and minor keys