There are 48 regular scales that every serious pianist must learn:
12 natural major scales
12 natural minor scales
12 harmonic minor scales
12 melodic minor scales
…because they are fundamental to the formation of intervals, chords, chord progressions, and songs.
Let’s take a closer look at them!
The Natural Major Scale
The natural major scale is basically an outline of all the notes in the major key. For example, all the notes in the key of C major are in the C major scale:
Consequently, learning the C major scale indirectly teaches you the key of C major.
The natural major scale consists of whole steps between successive scale tones save for the 3rd and 4th tones and the 7th and 8th tones where there are half-steps.
“Check out All The Natural Major Scales…”
C natural major scale:
Db natural major scale:
D natural major scale:
Eb natural major scale:
E natural major scale:
F natural major scale:
Gb natural major scale:
G natural major scale:
Ab natural major scale:
A natural major scale:
Bb natural major scale:
B natural major scale:
The Natural Minor Scale
The natural minor scale is basically an outline of all the notes in the minor key. For example, all the notes in the key of D minor are in the D minor scale:
The natural minor scale consists of whole steps between successive scale tones save for the 2nd and 3rd tones and the 5th and 6th tones where there are half-steps.
“Check out All The Natural Minor Scales…”
C natural minor scale:
C# natural minor scale:
D natural minor scale:
Eb natural minor scale:
E natural minor scale:
F natural minor scale:
F# natural minor scale:
G natural minor scale:
G# natural minor scale:
A natural minor scale:
Bb natural minor scale:
B natural minor scale:
The Harmonic Minor Scale
The harmonic minor scale is a variant of the natural minor scale.
Raising the seventh tone of the natural minor scale produces the harmonic minor scale.
“Check out All The Harmonic Minor Scales…”
C harmonic minor scale:
C# harmonic minor scale:
D harmonic minor scale:
Eb harmonic minor scale:
E harmonic minor scale:
F harmonic minor scale:
F# harmonic minor scale:
G harmonic minor scale:
Ab harmonic minor scale:
A harmonic minor scale:
Bb harmonic minor scale:
B harmonic minor scale:
The Melodic Minor Scale
The melodic minor scale is another variant of the natural minor scale.
Raising the sixth and seventh tone of the natural minor scale produces the melodic minor scale.
“Check out All The Melodic Minor Scales…”
C melodic minor scale:
C# melodic minor scale:
D melodic minor scale:
Eb melodic minor scale:
E melodic minor scale:
F melodic minor scale:
F# melodic minor scale:
G melodic minor scale:
Ab melodic minor scale:
A melodic minor scale:
Bb melodic minor scale:
B melodic minor scale:
Final Words
Dedicating the next 48 days (approximately 7 weeks) to learning and memorizing these scales would pay off greatly.
Practice! Practice!! Practice!!!
See you in the next lesson.
