List of scales and modes

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This is an unfinished list of every (useful) scale ever.

"Usefulness" is defined by a few criteria: The scales must be made of whole-steps, half-steps and minor thirds (3H), can't contain more than 2 consecutive half-steps, and can't contain 2 consecutive minor thirds. If you're interested in scales that sound terrible and have no use, check out the Xenharmonic Wiki.

Fizz often uses obscure/made-up humorous names for a lot of the scales on the list, but any of the names listed after "Aka." in the name tab are generally accepted by music theorists from inferior communities. Feel free to add names to a scale name tab if you've heard it called something else.

Scales without clusters

Scales that don't contain clusters (2 consecutive half-steps) tend to be the most versatile.

Nerk scales

Every heptatonic scale that doesn't contain consecutive half-steps. These scales occupy the Neo-Rimsky-Korsakovian (NeRK) space.

Major modes

  • Ionian
  • Dorian
  • Phrygian
  • Lydian
  • Mixolydian
  • Aeolian
  • Locrian
Mode I II III IV V VI VII
Name Ionian Aka. Major Dorian Phrygian Lydian Mixolydian Aeolian Aka. Minor Locrian
Notes 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7
Intervals W-W-H-W-W-W-H W-H-W-W-W-H-W H-W-W-W-H-W-W W-W-W-H-W-W-H W-W-H-W-W-H-W W-H-W-W-H-W-W H-W-W-H-W-W-W

Melodic minor modes

Mode I II III IV V VI VII
Name Athenian Aka. Melodic Minor, Ascending Melodic Minor. Cappadocian Aka. Dorian b2. Asgardian Aka. Lydian Augmented, Lydian ♯5. Arcadian Aka. Lydian Dominant, Lydian b7, Mixolydian ♯4. Olympian Aka. Mixolydian b6. Sisyphean Aka. Half Diminished, Locrian ♯2, Aeolian b5. Palamidian Aka. Altered Scale, Super Locrian, Locrian b4.
Notes 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 7 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7 1 2 3 ♯4 ♯5 6 7 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 ♭7 1 2 3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7 1 2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7 1 ♭2 ♭3 ♭4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7
Intervals W-H-W-W-W-W-H H-W-W-W-W-H-W W-W-W-W-H-W-H W-W-W-H-W-H-W W-W-H-W-H-W-W W-H-W-H-W-W-W H-W-H-W-W-W-W

Harmonic minor modes

  • Appalachian
  • Adonian
  • Thesian
  • Paralydian
  • Herculean
  • Calliopean
  • Morphean
Mode I II III IV V VI VII
Name Appalachian Aka. Harmonic Minor, Aeolian ♮7 Adonian Aka. Locrian ♮6, Javanese ♭5 Thesian Aka. Ionian ♯5, Augmented Major Paralydian Aka. Dorian #11, Dorian ♯4, Romanian Minor, Arabic Nikriz, Mi Sheberakh, Altered Dorian Herculean Aka. Phrygian Dominant, Hijaz, Double Harmonic Major ♭7, Mixolydian ♭2 ♭6, Freygish Calliopean Aka. Lydian ♯2 Morphean Aka. Super Locrian 𝄫7, Ultra Locrian, Altered Diminished
Notes 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 6 ♭7 1 2 3 4 ♯5 6 7 1 2 ♭3 ♯4 5 6 ♭7 1 ♭2 3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7 1 ♯2 3 ♯4 5 6 7 1 ♭2 ♭3 ♭4 ♭5 ♭6 𝄫7
Intervals W-H-W-W-H-3H-H H-W-W-H-3H-H-W W-W-H-3H-H-W-H W-H-3H-H-W-H-W H-3H-H-W-H-W-W 3H-H-W-H-W-W-H H-W-H-W-W-H-3H

Harmonic major modes

  • Laramidian
  • Dolorian
  • Plummetian
  • Morossian
  • Sangarian
  • Empyrean
  • Phobetorian
Mode I II III IV V VI VII
Name Laramidian Aka. Ionian ♭6 Dolorian Aka. Dorian-Locrian, Dorian ♭5 Plummetian Aka. Phrygian ♭4 Morossian Aka. Diminished Lydian, Lydian ♭3 Sangarian Aka. Mixolydian ♭2 Empyrean Aka. Lydian ♯2 ♯5 Phobetorian Aka. Locrian 𝄫7
Notes 1 2 3 4 5 ♭6 7 1 2 ♭3 4 ♭5 6 ♭7 1 ♭2 ♭3 ♭4 5 ♭6 ♭7 1 2 ♭3 ♯4 5 6 7 1 ♭2 3 4 5 6 ♭7 1 ♯2 3 ♯4 ♯5 6 7 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 𝄫7
Intervals W-W-H-W-H-3H-H W-H-W-H-3H-H-W H-W-H-3H-H-W-W W-H-3H-H-W-W-H H-3H-H-W-W-H-W 3H-H-W-W-H-W-H H-W-W-H-W-H-3H

Bright/dark Nerk scales

Bright/dark major and melodic minor modes

Bright major and dark major modes
  • Bright ionian, dark lydian Aka. Major hexatonic
  • Bright dorian, dark mixolydian
  • Bright phrygian, dark aeolian
  • Bright mixolydian, dark ionian
  • Bright aeolian, dark dorian
  • Bright locrian, dark phrygian
Mode I II III IV V VI VII
Name Bright ionian, dark lydian Aka. Major hexatonic Bright dorian, dark mixolydian Bright phrygian, dark aeolian Bright mixolydian, dark ionian Bright aeolian, dark dorian Bright locrian, dark phrygian
Notes 1 2 3 5 6 7 1 2 4 5 6 ♭7 1 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭7 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭6 ♭7
Intervals W-W-3H-W-W-H W-3H-W-W-H-W 3H-W-W-H-W-W W-W-H-W-W-3H W-H-W-W-3H-W H-W-W-3H-W-W
Bright gap major and dark melodic minor modes
  • Bright gap dorian, dark athenian
  • Bright gap phrygian, dark cappadocian
  • Bright gap lydian, dark asgardian
  • Bright gap mixolydian, dark arcadian
  • Bright gap aeolian, dark olympian
  • Bright gap locrian, dark sisyphean
Mode I II III IV V VI VII
Name Bright gap dorian, dark athenian Bright gap phrygian, dark cappadocian Bright gap lydian, dark asgardian Bright gap mixolydian, dark arcadian Bright gap aeolian, dark olympian Bright gap locrian, dark sisyphean
Notes 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 ♭7 1 2 3 ♯4 6 7 1 2 3 5 6 ♭7 1 2 4 5 ♭6 ♭7 1 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7
Intervals W-H-W-W-W-3H H-W-W-W-3H-W W-W-W-3H-W-H W-W-3H-W-H-W W-3H-W-H-W-W 3H-W-H-W-W-W
Dark gap major and bright melodic minor modes
  • Dark gap ionian, bright athenian
  • Dark gap dorian, bright cappadocian
  • Dark gap lydian, bright arcadian
  • Dark gap mixolydian, bright olympian
  • Dark gap aeolian, bright sisyphean
  • Dark gap locrian, bright palamidian
Mode I II III IV V VI VII
Name Dark gap ionian, bright athenian Dark gap dorian, bright cappadocian Dark gap lydian, bright arcadian Dark gap mixolydian, bright olympian Dark gap aeolian, bright sisyphean Dark gap locrian, bright palamidian
Notes 1 2 4 5 6 7 1 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 ♭7 1 2 ♭3 4 ♭6 ♭7 1 ♭2 ♭3 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7
Intervals W-3H-W-W-W-H 3H-W-W-W-H-W W-W-W-H-W-3H W-W-H-W-3H-W W-H-W-3H-W-W H-W-3H-W-W-W
Bright gap melodic minor modes
  • Bright gap cappadocian
  • Bright gap asgardian
  • Bright gap arcadian
  • Bright gap olympian
  • Bright gap sisyphean
  • Bright gap palamidian
Mode I II III IV V VI VII
Name Bright gap cappadocian Bright gap asgardian Bright gap arcadian Bright gap olympian Bright gap sisyphean Bright gap palamidian
Notes 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 6 1 2 3 ♯4 ♯5 7 1 2 3 ♯4 6 ♭7 1 2 3 5 ♭6 ♭7 1 2 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7 1 ♭3 ♭4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7
Intervals H-W-W-W-W-3H W-W-W-W-3H-H W-W-W-3H-H-W W-W-3H-H-W-W W-3H-H-W-W-W 3H-H-W-W-W-W
Dark gap melodic minor modes
  • Dark gap athenian
  • Dark gap asgardian
  • Dark gap arcadian
  • Dark gap olympian
  • Dark gap sisyphean
  • Dark gap palamidian
Mode I II III IV V VI VII
Name Dark gap athenian Dark gap asgardian Dark gap arcadian Dark gap olympian Dark gap sisyphean Dark gap palamidian
Notes 1 ♭3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 ♯4 ♯5 6 1 2 3 ♯4 5 ♭7 1 2 3 4 ♭6 ♭7 1 2 ♭3 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7 1 ♭2 ♭4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7
Intervals 3H-W-W-W-W-H W-W-W-W-H-3H W-W-W-H-3H-W W-W-H-3H-W-W W-H-3H-W-W-W H-3H-W-W-W-W

Bright/dark harmonic minor and harmonic major modes

Dark harmonic minor modes
  • Dark appalachian
  • Dark thesian
  • Dark paralydian
  • Dark herculean
  • Dark calliopean
  • Dark morphean
Mode I II III IV V VI VII
Name Dark appalachian Dark thesian Dark paralydian Dark herculean Dark calliopean Dark morphean
Notes 1 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7 1 2 3 4 ♯5 6 1 2 ♭3 ♯4 5 ♭7 1 ♭2 3 4 ♭6 ♭7 1 ♯2 3 5 6 7 1 ♭2 ♭4 ♭5 ♭6 𝄫7
Intervals 3H-W-W-H-3H-H W-W-H-3H-H-3H W-H-3H-H-3H-W H-3H-H-3H-W-W 3H-H-3H-W-W-H H-3H-W-W-H-3H
Bright harmonic minor and dark harmonic major modes
  • Bright appalachian, Dark laramidian
  • Bright adonian, Dark dolorian
  • Bright paralydian, Dark morossian
  • Bright herculean, Dark sangarian
  • Bright calliopean, Dark empyrean
  • Bright morphean, Dark phobetorian
Mode I II III IV V VI VII
Name Bright appalachian, Dark laramidian Bright adonian, Dark dolorian Bright paralydian, Dark morossian Bright herculean, Dark sangarian Bright calliopean, Dark empyrean Bright morphean, Dark phobetorian
Notes 1 2 4 5 ♭6 7 1 ♭3 4 ♭5 6 ♭7 1 2 ♭3 ♯4 5 6 1 ♭2 3 4 5 ♭7 1 ♯2 3 ♯4 6 7 1 ♭2 ♭3 ♭5 ♭6 𝄫7
Intervals W-3H-W-H-3H-H 3H-W-H-3H-H-W W-H-3H-H-W-3H H-3H-H-W-3H-W 3H-H-W-3H-W-H H-W-3H-W-H-3H
Bright harmonic major modes
  • Bright laramidian
  • Bright dolorian
  • Bright plummetian
  • Bright sangarian
  • Bright empyrean
  • Bright phobetorian
Mode I II III IV V VI VII
Name Bright laramidian Bright dolorian Bright plummetian Bright sangarian Bright empyrean Bright phobetorian
Notes 1 2 3 5 ♭6 7 1 2 4 ♭5 6 ♭7 1 ♭3 ♭4 5 ♭6 ♭7 1 ♭2 3 4 5 6 1 ♯2 3 ♯4 ♯5 7 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭6 𝄫7
Intervals W-W-3H-H-3H-H W-3H-H-3H-H-W 3H-H-3H-H-W-W H-3H-H-W-W-3H 3H-H-W-W-3H-H H-W-W-3H-H-3H

Pentatonic modes

  • Ionian pentatonic
  • Dorian pentatonic
  • Phrygian pentatonic
  • Mixolydian pentatonic
  • Aeolian pentatonic
Mode I II III V VI
Name Ionian pentatonic Aka. Major pentatonic, pentatonic Dorian pentatonic Phrygian pentatonic Mixolydian pentatonic Aeolian pentatonic Aka. Minor pentatonic
Notes 1 2 3 5 6 1 2 4 5 ♭7 1 ♭3 4 ♭6 ♭7 1 2 4 5 6 1 ♭3 4 5 ♭7
Intervals W-W-3H-W-3H W-3H-W-3H-W 3H-W-3H-W-W W-3H-W-W-3H 3H-W-W-3H-W

Diminished scales

Mode I II
Name Whole-half scale Aka. Whole-half diminished scale Half-whole scale Aka. Half-whole Diminished
Notes 1 2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 6 7 1 ♭2 ♯2 3 ♯4 5 6 ♭7
Intervals W-H-W-H-W-H-W-H H-W-H-W-H-W-H-W

Other scales without clusters

  • Whole scale
  • Whole-half scale
  • Half-whole scale
  • Augmented-half scale
  • Half-augmented scale
Mode I
Name Whole scale Aka. Whole-tone scale
Notes 1 2 3 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7
Intervals W-W-W-W-W-W
Mode I II
Name Augmented-half scale Aka. (?) Half-augmented scale Aka. (?)
Notes 1 ♯2 3 5 ♭6 7 1 ♭2 3 4 ♯5 6
Intervals 3H-H-3H-H-3H-H H-3H-H-3H-H-3H
  • Tritone scale
Mode I II III
Name Tritone scale ? ?
Notes 1 ♭2 3 ♯4 5 ♭7 1 ♭3 4 ♭5 6 7 1 2 ♭3 ♯4 ♯5 6
Intervals H-3H-W-H-3H-W 3H-W-H-3H-W-H W-H-3H-W-H-3H

Scales with 1 cluster

Bebop scales

Major bebop modes

  • Ionian bebop
  • Dorian bebop
  • Phrygian bebop
  • Lydian bebop
  • Mixolydian bebop
  • Secret major bebop mode
  • Aeolian bebop
  • Locrian bebop
Mode I II III IV V Secret VI VII
Name Ionian bebop Aka. Major bebop Dorian bebop Phrygian bebop Lydian bebop Mixolydian bebop Secret major bebop mode Aeolian bebop Aka. Harmonic minor bebop Locrian bebop
Notes
Intervals

Melodic minor bebop modes

  • Athenian bebop
  • Cappadocian bebop
  • Asgardian bebop
  • Arcadian bebop
  • Olympian bebop
  • Secret melodic minor bebop mode
  • Sisyphean bebop
  • Palamidian bebop
Mode I II III IV V Secret VI VII
Name Athenian bebop Aka. Melodic minor bebop Cappadicoan bebop Asgardian bebop Arcadian bebop Olympian bebop Secret melodic minor bebop mode Sisyphean bebop Palamidian bebop
Notes
Intervals

Harmonic major bebop modes

  • Laramidian bebop
  • Dolorian bebop
  • Plumettian bebop
  • Morossian bebop
  • Sangarian bebop
  • Empyrean bebop
  • Secret harmonic major bebop mode
  • Phobetorian bebop
Mode I II III IV V VI Secret VII
Name Laramidian bebop Aka. Harmonic major bebop Dolorian bebop Plummetian bebop Morossian bebop Sangarian bebop Empyrean bebop Secret harmonic major bebop mode Phobetorian bebop
Notes
Intervals

Bright/dark nerk bebop scales

Bright major bebop modes

  • Bright ionian bebop
  • Bright dorian bebop
  • Bright phrygian bebop
  • Bright lydian bebop
  • Bright mixolydian bebop
  • Secret bright major bebop mode
  • Bright aeolian bebop
  • Dark ionian bebop
  • Dark dorian bebop
  • Dark phrygian bebop
  • Dark lydian bebop
  • Dark mixolydian bebop
  • Secret dark major bebop mode
  • Dark aeolian bebop
Mode I II III IV V Secret VI VII
Name Bright ionian bebop Bright dorian bebop Bright phrygian bebop Bright mixolydian bebop Secret bright major bebop mode Bright aeolian bebop Bright locrian bebop
Notes 1 2 3 5 6 7 1 2 4 5 6 ♭7 1 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 ♭2 ♭3 3 ♯4 ♯5 7 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭7 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭6 ♭7
Intervals W-W-3H-H-H-W-H W-3H-H-H-W-H-W 3H-H-H-W-H-W-W H-H-W-H-W-W-3H H-W-H-W-W-3H-H W-H-W-W-3H-H-H H-W-W-3H-H-H-W
Mode I II III IV V Secret VI VII
Name Dark ionian bebop Dark dorian bebop Dark phrygian bebop Dark mixolydian bebop Secret dark major bebop mode Dark aeolian bebop Dark locrian bebop
Notes
Intervals

Blues scales

Major blues modes

  • Ionian blues
  • Dorian blues
  • Secret major blues mode
  • Phrygian blues
  • Mixolydian blues
  • Aeolian blues
Mode I II Secret III V VI
Name Ionian blues Aka. Major blues, blues Dorian blues Secret major blues mode Phrygian blues Mixolydian blues Aeolian blues Aka. Minor blues
Notes 1 2 ♭3 3 5 6 1 ♭2 2 4 5 ♭7 1 ♭2 3 ♯4 6 7 1 ♭3 4 ♭6 ♭7 7 1 2 4 5 ♭6 6 1 ♭3 4 ♭5 5 ♭7
Intervals W-H-H-3H-W-3H H-H-3H-W-3H-W H-3H-W-3H-W-H 3H-W-3H-W-H-H W-3H-W-H-H-3H 3H-W-H-H-3H-W

Major anti-blues modes

  • Ionian anti-blues
  • Secret major anti-blues mode
  • Dorian anti-blues
  • Phrygian anti-blues
  • Mixolydian anti-blues
  • Aeolian anti-blues
Mode I Secret II III V VI
Name Ionian anti-blues, major anti-blues, anti-blues Secret major anti-blues mode Dorian anti-blues Phrygian anti-blues Mixolydian anti-blues Aeolian anti-blues Aka. Minor anti-blues
Notes 1 ♭2 2 3 5 6 1 ♭2 ♭3 ♭5 ♭6 7 1 2 4 5 ♭7 7 1 ♭3 4 ♭6 6 ♭7 1 2 4 ♭5 5 6 1 ♭3 3 4 5 ♭7
Intervals H-H-W-3H-W-3H H-W-3H-W-3H-H W-3H-W-3H-H-H 3H-W-3H-H-H-W W-3H-H-H-W-3H 3H-H-H-W-3H-W

Major pentatonic bebop modes

  • Ionian pentatonic bebop
  • Dorian pentatonic bebop
  • Phrygian pentatonic bebop
  • Mixolydian pentatonic bebop
  • Secret major pentatonic bebop mode
  • Aeolian pentatonic bebop
Mode I II III V VI
Name Ionian pentatonic bebop, major pentatonic bebop, pentatonic bebop Dorian pentatonic bebop Phrygian pentatonic bebop Mixolydian pentatonic bebop Secret major pentatonic bebop mode Aeolian pentatonic Aka. Minor pentatonic bebop
Notes 1 2 3 5 ♭6 6 1 2 4 ♭5 5 ♭7 1 ♭3 3 4 ♭6 ♭7 1 ♭2 2 4 5 6 1 ♭2 3 ♯4 ♯5 7 1 ♭3 4 5 ♭7 7
Intervals W-W-3H-H-H-3H W-3H-H-H-3H-W 3H-H-H-3H-W-W H-H-3H-W-W-3H H-3H-W-W-3H-H 3H-W-W-3H-H-H

Other scales with 1 cluster

Double harmonic major modes

  • Double harmonic major
  • ?
  • ?
  • Hungarian minor
  • ?
  • ?
  • ?
Mode I II III IV V VI VII
Name Double harmonic major ? ? Hungarian minor ? ? ?
Notes
Intervals H-3H-H-W-H-3H-H 3H-H-W-H-3H-H-H H-W-H-3H-H-H-3H W-H-3H-H-H-3H-H H-3H-H-H-3H-H-W 3H-H-H-3H-H-W-H H-H-3H-H-W-H-3H

Harmonic phrygian modes

  • Harmonic phrygian
  • ?
  • ?
  • ?
  • ?
  • ?
  • ?
Mode I II III IV V VI VII
Name Harmonic phrygian Aka. Neapolitan minor ? ? ? ? ? ?
Notes
Intervals H-W-W-W-H-3H-H W-W-W-H-3H-H-H W-W-H-3H-H-H-W W-H-3H-H-H-W-W H-3H-H-H-W-W-W 3H-H-H-W-W-W-H H-H-W-W-W-H-3H

Harmonic lydian modes

  • Harmonic lydian
  • ?
  • ?
  • ?
  • ?
  • ?
  • ?
Mode I II III IV V VI VII
Name Harmonic lydian ? ? ? ? ? ?
Notes
Intervals W-W-W-H-H-3H-H W-W-H-H-3H-H-W W-H-H-3H-H-W-W H-H-3H-H-W-W-W H-3H-H-W-W-W-H 3H-H-W-W-W-H-H H-W-W-W-H-H-3H

Neapolitan major modes

  • Neapolitan major
  • ?
  • ?
  • ?
  • ?
  • ?
  • ?
Mode I II III IV V VI VII
Name Neapolitan major ? ? ? ? ? ?
Notes
Intervals H-W-W-W-W-W-H W-W-W-W-W-H-H W-W-W-W-H-H-W W-W-W-H-H-W-W W-W-H-H-W-W-W W-H-H-W-W-W-W H-H-W-W-W-W-W

Bonus scales

Scales with 2 clusters

Mode I II III IV
Name Whole-whole-half-half Whole-half-half-whole Half-half-whole-whole Half-whole-whole-half
Notes 1 2 3 4 ♯4 ♯5 ♯6 7 1 2 ♯2 3 ♯4 ♯5 6 ♭7 1 ♭2 2 3 ♯4 5 ♭6 ♭7 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♯4 5 6 7
Intervals W-W-H-H-W-W-H-H W-H-H-W-W-H-H-W H-H-W-W-H-H-W-W H-W-W-H-H-W-W-H

Scales with 3 clusters

These are the most awful and pointless scales on the page.

Mode I II III
Name Whole-half-half Half-half-whole Half-whole-half
Notes 1 2 ♯2 3 ♯4 5 ♯5 ♯6 7 1 ♭2 2 3 4 ♯4 ♯5 6 ♭7 1 ♭2 ♭3 3 4 5 ♭6 6 7
Intervals W-H-H-W-H-H-W-H-H H-H-W-H-H-W-H-H-W H-W-H-H-W-H-H-W-H

Scales with 4 or more clusters

Mode I
Name Chromatic
Notes 1 ♭2 2 ♯2 3 4 ♯4 5 ♯5 6 ♭7 7
Intervals H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H
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