Lesson 6 of 10
Major & Minor Scales
All 12 major and minor scales in letter notes — your complete scale reference.
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About Scales
A scale starts from a root note and follows a specific pattern of whole steps (W) and half steps (H). The pattern determines whether the scale sounds major (bright) or minor (dark).
- Major scale formula: W – W – H – W – W – W – H
- Natural minor scale formula: W – H – W – W – H – W – W
Major Scales
The major scale is the foundation of Western music. Every major scale follows the same interval pattern, just starting from a different root note.
C
C D E F G A B C
C# / Db
C# D# F F# G# A# C C#
D
D E F# G A B C# D
D# / Eb
D# F G G# A# C D D#
E
E F# G# A B C# D# E
F
F G A A# C D E F
F# / Gb
F# G# A# B C# D# F F#
G
G A B C D E F# G
G# / Ab
G# A# C C# D# F G G#
A
A B C# D E F# G# A
A# / Bb
A# C D D# F G A A#
B
B C# D# E F# G# A# B
Minor Scales
The natural minor scale gives songs a sadder, more emotional quality. Many film and Bollywood songs use minor scales for their melodies.
C minor
C D D# F G G# A# C
C# / Db minor
C# D# E F# G# A B C#
D minor
D E F G A A# C D
D# / Eb minor
D# F F# G# A# B C# D#
E minor
E F# G A B C D E
F minor
F G G# A# C C# D# F
F# / Gb minor
F# G# A B C# D E F#
G minor
G A A# C D D# F G
G# / Ab minor
G# A# B C# D# E F# G#
A minor
A B C D E F G A
A# / Bb minor
A# C C# D# F F# G# A#
B minor
B C# D E F# G A B
Practice Tips
- Start with C Major and A Minor — both use only natural notes.
- Practice each scale ascending and descending. Going down is harder than going up.
- Play scales on multiple positions of the neck (see Lesson 5).
- Use scales as warm-ups before songs — 5 minutes daily.