Scales

The chromatic scale is a musical scale consisting of twelve successive pitches, each a semitone apart. It is used in various musical styles for melodic and harmonic color, and forms the basis of chromaticism in Western music.

The octatonic scale is an eight‑note symmetric scale built from alternating whole and half steps. It appears in classical, jazz, and film music, offering a rich source of tension and colour.

A minor scale is a diatonic collection of seven pitches that creates a somber or melancholic tonal center. It exists in three common forms—natural, harmonic, and melodic—each with a distinct pattern of intervals. Minor scales underpin much of Western music, from classical sonatas to contemporary pop songs.

The melodic minor scale is a seven‑note diatonic scale that differs from the natural minor by raising the sixth and seventh degrees when ascending, and typically reverting to the natural minor form when descending. It is a fundamental resource in classical harmony, jazz improvisation, and modern composition.

The harmonic minor scale is a seven‑note minor scale distinguished by a raised seventh degree, creating a leading tone to the tonic. It is a foundational element in Western classical, jazz, and metal music.

The blues scale is a six‑note (hexatonic) scale derived from the minor pentatonic with an added flattened fifth, creating the characteristic “blue” sound used in blues, jazz, rock, and many other styles.

The diatonic scale is a seven‑note musical scale consisting of five whole steps and two half steps in a fixed pattern, forming the basis of most Western tonal music.

The major scale is a seven‑note diatonic scale characterized by a specific pattern of whole and half steps, forming the basis of much Western tonal music.