by guitar instructor: Todd Lefever

A scale is a series of single notes progressing up or down stepwise.  A scale is usually built in an ascending direction from one note to its octave.

The formula for a scale refers to the intervals contained within it – intervals being the distances between one note and the next, measured in semitones (1 semitone = 1 fret, 2 semitones or a 1 whole tone = 2 frets).  It is conventional to relate all these intervals from the major scale, which is spelled:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.  Example: G Major Scale = G, A, B, C, D, E, F#.
Scale Formula Example

Chromatic Scale  1, #1/b2, 2, #2/b3,  G Chromatic Scale = G, G#/Ab, A, A#/Bb,

• • 3, 4, #4/b5, 5, #5/b6, B, C, C#/Db, D, D#/Eb,

• • 6, #6/b7, 7   E, E#/F, F#

Major Scale   1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7  G Major Scale = G, A, B, C, D, E, F#

Natural Minor Scale  1, 2, b3, 4, 5, b6, b7  G Natural Minor Scale = G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F

Harmonic Minor Scale 1, 2, b3, 4, 5, b6, 7  G Harm. Minor Scale = G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F#

Jazz Melodic Minor Scale 1, 2, b3, 4, 5, 6, 7  G Melodic Minor Scale = G, A, Bb, C, D, E, F#

Harmonic Major Scale 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, b6, 7  G Harm. Major Scale = G, A, B, C, D, Eb, F#

Major Pentatonic Scale 1, 2, 3, 5, 6   G Major Pentatonic Scale = G, A, B, D, E

Minor Pentatonic Scale 1, b3, 4, 5, b7  G Minor Pentatonic Scale = G, Bb, C, D, F

Minor 6 Pentatonic Scale 1, b3, 4, 5, 6   G Minor 6 Pentatonic Scale = G, Bb, C, D, E

Hindu Pentatonic Scale 1, 3, 4, 5, b7   G Hindu Pentatonic Scale = G, B, C, D, F

Major Blues Scale     1, 2, b3, 3, 5, 6  G Major Blues Scale = G, A, Bb, B, D, E

Minor Blues Scale     1, b3, 4, b5, 5, b7  G Minor Blues Scale = G, Bb, C, Db, D, F

Minor/Major Blues Scale    1, b3, 3, 4, b5, 5, b7  G Min./Maj. Blues Scale = G, Bb, B, C, Db, D, F

Whole Tone Scale     1, 2, 3, #4, #5, #6  G Whole Tone Scale = G, A, B, C#, D#, E#

Symmetrical Diminished Scale   1, 2, b3, 4, b5, #5, 6, 7     G Sym. Diminished Scale = G, A, Bb, C, Db, D#, E, F#

Symmetrical Dominant Scale 1, b2, b3, 3, #4, 5, 6, b7    G Sym. Dominant Scale = G, Ab, Bb, B, C#, D, E, F

Todd Lefever is a music instructor and an outstanding guitarist offering private lessons at Elite Music Academy. Whether it is electric or acoustic guitar, lessons are tailored to a everyone’s goals, skills and musical interestes. Book today a free consultation at 416 406 5355 ext 1