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
G9 13 Am 9

B7

&

Imaj7 ii7 iii7 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 n
b

Chords derived from C harmonic minor scale shown with their functions (as Roman numerals)

bb 9
related to traditional music.
Cm maj7 D7 b
E m aj7 5 # Fm 9 G7 13 b
A m aj7 B7

b b
b b
b
& b n b n
b b b n
n
ii7 iv7 V7 VImaj7 vii7

1996, Bert Ligon

 Scale Catalog, p. 2

MELODIC MINOR SCALE with RELATED MODES & CHORDS

Chord associated with C Melodic Minor:

C Melodic Minor
Cm maj7

w
& b n n b wwww

Chord associated with Eb Lydian Augmented:
Eb Lydian Augmented
b
E m aj7 5 #
b w
& b b n www
Chord associated with F Lydian Dominant:
F Lydian Dominant
F9 11 #
b b wwwww
& n w
Chord associated with G mixolydian b6:
G mixolydian b6
G9 13 b
b b ww
&
n wwww
Chord associated with A Locrian #2:
A Locrian #2
A7 2 #

b
& n b n wwwww
Chord associated with B Superlocrian:
B Superlocrian (A.K.A. diminished whole tone,
altered scale) B7al t.
w
b wwwww
&
b w
 Scale Catalog, p. 3

LESS TRADITIONAL SCALES

C Harmonic Major (Major with flat 6)

& b n

Chord associated with 5th mode
5th mode of C major flat 6:
G13 9 b of C major flat 6:

& b b www
ww
Chord associated with 3rd mode
#9 of C major flat 6:
3rd mode of C major flat 6:
b
ww
E7 13

& b a www

Chords associated with

half/whole diminished scale:
b b9
#
C Half/Whole Diminished
C7 9 C13 11

& b b b b b #

b b n #

Chords associated with

whole/half diminished scale:
C Whole/Half Diminished
C7 Cm aj7

& # # b b n
b

Chord associated with whole

tone scale:
C Whole Tone
C9 5 #

& b b b
# b wwwww
 Scale Catalog, p. 4

C Major Pentatonic C Major Blues

&
#

C Minor Pentatonic C Minor Blues

& b b
b b #

Chord associated with

augmented scale:
C Augmented
Cm aj7 5 #

& # # wwww
#