Scales Level II

Question 0

What is the formula for a Minor Pentatonic?

Answer 0

1 b3 4 5 b7 8

This fits a Minor 7th chord perfectly. Because of the blues tradition, this will also work over Dominant 7th, even though it shouldn’t!

Question 1

What is the formula for a Major Pentatonic?

Answer 1

1 2 3 5 6 8

Because there is no 7 in this scale, it will work well with either a Major or Dominant 7th chord.

Question 2

What is the formula for the Blues Scale?

Answer 2

1 b3 4 5 b7 8

Also sometimes referred to as the Minor Blues Scale (The Major Blues Scale is 1 2 #2 3 5 6 8). Because of the blues tradition, this will also work over Dominant 7th, even though it shouldn’t!

Question 3

What is the formula for the Harmonic Minor Scale?

Answer 3

1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7 8

The interval between b6 & 7 (an augmented 2nd) is what gives this scale its unique sound. The modes of HM are even better!

Question 4

What is the formula for the Melodic Minor Scale?

Answer 4

1 2 b3 4 5 6 7 8 b7 b6 5 4 b3 2 1

The Melodic Minor is unique in that it has an ascending & descending version. Since the descending version already exists in another form (the Aeolian Mode), the Ascending Melodic Minor is the one to use. The modes of MM are even better!

Question 5

What is the Whole Tone Scale?

Answer 5

1 2 3 #4 #5 b7 8

The “dream sequence” scale. Works perfectly with altered dominants that do not have altered 9’s, the scale is created by six whole step intervals, thus the name.

Question 6

What is the formula for any W/H Diminished Scale?

Answer 6

1 2 b3 4 b5 b6 bb7 7 8

W/H (Whole/Half) Diminished name refers to the symmetrical interval structure of this scale (WHWHWHWH). Because there are so many half steps present, the scale has to use two 7’s, making this an eight tone (octatonic) scale. This is generally the preferred scale for °7 chords.

Question 7

What is the formula for any H/W Diminished Scale?

Answer 7

1 b2 #2 3 #4 5 6 b7 8

H/W (Half/Whole) Diminished name refers to the symmetrical interval structure of this scale (HWHWHWHW). Because there are so many half steps present, the scale has to use two 2’s, making this an eight tone (octatonic) scale. This scale is misspelled enharmonically to avoid the dreaded and musically useless b4 (really a 3). The traditional spelling would be:
1 b2 b3 b4 b5 bb7 b7 8

The respelled version is much more useful as a scale for altered dominants with unaltered 13’s: ex: C13 b9 +9 +11