SCALES for JAZZ IMPROVISATION

MAJOR SCALE with RELATED MODES & CHORDS

C Major

&c

Chords derived from C major scale shown with their functions (as Roman numerals) related to traditional music. Cm aj9 Dm 9 Em 7 Fm aj9

&

Imaj7

ii7

iii7

G9 13

Am 9

B7

IVmaj7

V7

vi7

vii7

MODES RELATED TO C MAJOR:

D Dorian E Phrygian F Lydian

&
G Mixolydian

A Aeolian

&

B Locrian (not useful as a tonic mode as there is no perfect fifth above the tonic)

HARMONIC MINOR SCALE with RELATED MODES & CHORDS

C Harmonic Minor

& b #

bb 9 bb n
V7

b b b

Chords derived from C harmonic minor scale shown with their functions (as Roman numerals) related to traditional music. Cm maj7 D7 E m aj7 5

& bn

b
ii7

n b

b b

Fm 9

G7 13

A m aj7

b n

B7

iv7

VImaj7

vii7

1996, Bert Ligon

Scale Catalog, p. 2

MELODIC MINOR SCALE with RELATED MODES & CHORDS

C Melodic Minor

Chord associated with C Melodic Minor: Cm maj7

&

n n

w w bw w w
Chord associated with Eb Lydian Augmented: E m aj7 5

Eb Lydian Augmented

& b

w w bnw w
Chord associated with F Lydian Dominant: F9 11

F Lydian Dominant

&

# w bw w w w w

G mixolydian b6

Chord associated with G mixolydian b6:

&

G9 13

b bw w w nw w w

A Locrian #2

Chord associated with A Locrian #2:

& n

A7 2

w bnw w w w
Chord associated with B Superlocrian: B7al t.

B Superlocrian (A.K.A. diminished whole tone, altered scale)

&

w w bw w w w w

Scale Catalog, p. 3

LESS TRADITIONAL SCALES

C Harmonic Major (Major with flat 6)

&
5th mode of C major flat 6:

b bw w w w w #9 b 13 E7 w w aw w w
G13 9

Chord associated with 5th mode of C major flat 6:

& b

3rd mode of C major flat 6:

Chord associated with 3rd mode of C major flat 6:

&

C Half/Whole Diminished

Chords associated with half/whole diminished scale:

&

b b n #

b bb

C7 9

b9 # bb#

C13 11

C Whole/Half Diminished

Chords associated with whole/half diminished scale: C7 Cm aj7

&

# #

bb

C Whole Tone

Chord associated with whole tone scale:

&

b b b

# w #bw w w w

C9 5

Scale Catalog, p. 4

C Major Pentatonic

C Major Blues

&

C Minor Pentatonic

C Minor Blues

&

C Augmented

Chord associated with augmented scale: Cm aj7 5

&

#w w w w