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.

˙˙
G9 13
˙˙˙ ˙˙˙
˙˙˙
Cm aj9 Dm 9 Em 7 Fm aj9 Am 9 Bø7

˙˙˙ ˙˙˙ ˙˙˙ ˙˙˙ ˙˙ ˙

& ˙˙ ˙˙ ˙ ˙˙ ˙
Imaj7 ii7 iii7 IVmaj7 V7 vi7 viiø7

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˙

bb 9
Chords derived from C harmonic minor scale shown with their functions (as Roman numerals)

b # b
related to traditional music.

b ˙˙˙
Cm maj7 E m aj7 5
˙ ˙
Dø7 Fm 9 G7 13 A m aj7 B°7

& b n ˙˙˙ b ˙˙˙ ˙

b n ˙˙˙ b b ˙˙˙˙ b b ˙˙˙ b b ˙˙˙ n˙
˙ ˙ n ˙˙˙
iiø7 iv7 V7 VImaj7 vii°7

© 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

˙ ww
&
˙ ˙ b˙ ˙ ˙ n˙ n˙ b www

b #
Chord associated with Eb Lydian Augmented:
Eb Lydian Augmented
E m aj7 5

˙ ˙ ˙ b˙ w
& b˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ b n www

#
Chord associated with F Lydian Dominant:
F Lydian Dominant

ww
F9 11

˙ ˙ b˙ ˙ b www
& ˙ ˙ ˙ n˙ w

b
Chord associated with G mixolydian b6:
G mixolydian b6
G9 13

˙ ˙ b˙ ˙ ˙ b ww
& ˙ ˙ ˙
n wwww
#
Chord associated with A Locrian #2:
A Locrian #2

˙
Aø7 2

˙ ˙ b˙ ˙ ˙
& ˙ n˙ b n wwwww
Chord associated with B Superlocrian:

w
B Superlocrian (A.K.A. diminished whole tone,

b wwwww
altered scale) B7al t.

& ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙
˙ ˙ ˙ b˙ w
 Scale Catalog, p. 3

LESS TRADITIONAL SCALES

C Harmonic Major (Major with flat 6)

& ˙ ˙ b˙ n˙ ˙
˙ ˙ ˙

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

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

E7 b 13
3rd mode of C major flat 6:

ww
˙ ˙ ˙
& ˙ ˙ ˙ b˙ ˙ a www

b9
Chords associated with

b
half/whole diminished scale:
#
C Half/Whole Diminished

b b # ˙˙˙˙
C7 9 C13 11

& ˙ ˙ b˙ b b ˙˙˙˙
˙ b˙ b˙ n˙ #˙ ˙ ˙˙

Chords associated with

whole/half diminished scale:
C Whole/Half Diminished
C°7 C°m 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
#˙ ˙