Scale Finder

This scale finder shows the notes of any major, minor or modal scale as well as pentatonic, blues and whole-tone scales – with correct accidentals, the whole-step and half-step pattern and the triad on every degree.

Example: Root note: D · Scale: Major → Scale: D major: D – E – F♯ – G – A – B – C♯. Source: Wikipedia – Scale (music). Updated: 1 October 2026.

Root note

Scale

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Result

Scale: D major: D – E – F♯ – G – A – B – C♯
Degrees: Degree Note Triad Chord tones
I D D D – F♯ – A
ii E Em E – G – B
iii F♯ F♯m F♯ – A – C♯
IV G G G – B – D
V A A A – C♯ – E
vi B Bm B – D – F♯
vii° C♯ C♯° C♯ – E – G
Structure: Steps (W = whole step, H = half step, 1½ = minor third): W W H W W W H
Notes with accidentals (2): F♯ C♯
Relative minor: B natural minor

Degree	Note	Triad	Chord tones
I	D	D	D – F♯ – A
ii	E	Em	E – G – B
iii	F♯	F♯m	F♯ – A – C♯
IV	G	G	G – B – D
V	A	A	A – C♯ – E
vi	B	Bm	B – D – F♯
vii°	C♯	C♯°	C♯ – E – G

How it is calculated

A scale is a series of notes within an octave, arranged by pitch. Which notes belong to it is set by the pattern of whole and half steps – for a major scale it is W W H W W W H.

Major, minor and the modes

Major sounds bright: a major third between the root and the third degree. Natural minor (W H W W H W W) has the minor third and sounds darker. Harmonic minor raises the seventh degree, melodic minor ascending raises the sixth as well.
Modes are major scales that start on another degree: Dorian on the second, Phrygian on the third, Lydian on the fourth, Mixolydian on the fifth, Locrian on the seventh.
Pentatonic scales have five notes and no half steps – popular for improvising. The blues scale adds the blue note (flat fifth) to the minor pentatonic.
The whole-tone scale consists of six equal steps.

Correct note spelling

Each letter appears only once in a scale, so the fourth note of C major is F and the fourth note of F major is B♭, not A♯. Triads are built by stacking thirds: on the seventh degree of C major stands the diminished chord B°. In German-speaking countries the note B is called H, while B♭ is called B.

To try it out: look up chords, play on the online piano or tune with the tuner.

Frequently asked questions

Which notes are in D major?

D, E, F♯, G, A, B, C♯. The key has two sharps (F♯ and C♯). Its relative minor is B minor.

What is the difference between major and minor?

Major has a major third (four semitones) and minor a minor third (three semitones) above the root. Major usually sounds brighter, minor darker.

What are modes?

Scales that use the same notes as a major scale but start on another degree. D Dorian has the same notes as C major but begins on D.

Why is it E♭ and not D♯?

Because each letter appears only once in the scale. In E♭ major, E♭ is followed by F, not E, so the note is spelled E♭ rather than D♯.

Which scale is good for improvising?

The minor pentatonic and the blues scale are especially popular because almost every note sounds good over the matching chords.

Sources and legal basis

As of: 1 October 2026 · Editorial policy