Scale Finder
Scale Finder shows any of 33 scales and modes in every key — major, minor, pentatonic, blues, the modes, jazz and world scales — with correctly spelled notes, piano and guitar diagrams, diatonic chords and playback. A free scale finder for practicing, improvising and writing.
How to find a scale
- 1
Select a root note
Pick the root of the scale you want, for example A, C or F♯.
- 2
Choose a scale or mode
Pick a scale from the Common, Modes, Jazz, World or Other tabs, or search by name — for example Dorian, blues or flamenco.
- 3
See and hear it
Read the notes and scale degrees, see them on the piano keyboard and guitar fretboard, and press Play up or Play down to hear the scale.
- 4
Explore its chords and modes
Open the Chords tab to hear the scale's diatonic chords, or the Modes tab to see every mode built from the same notes.
Scales for improvising and soloing
Knowing the right scale is the key to improvising confidently. Find the scale that matches a song's key and you have a map of the notes that will sound good, whether you are soloing on guitar, comping on piano, or writing a melody.
Understanding modes
Modes are scales built from the same set of notes but starting on different degrees, each with its own character. The Modes tab lists every mode of the major, harmonic minor and melodic minor scales with its notes, so you can see how Dorian, Mixolydian and the rest differ from plain major and minor.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find a scale?
Choose a root note and a scale type in the Scale Finder and it instantly shows the notes, scale degrees, piano and guitar diagrams, and the scale's chords.
Which scales does it include?
33 scales: major, natural minor, harmonic and melodic minor, major and minor pentatonic and blues; the modes Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Locrian; the jazz scales bebop major, minor and dominant, Lydian dominant, altered, both diminished scales and whole tone; the world scales Phrygian dominant, double harmonic major, Hungarian and Romanian minor, Neapolitan major and minor, Persian and Arabian; plus chromatic, enigmatic and Prometheus.
How do I find the scale that fits a song or its chords?
The Scale Finder works from a root note and scale type. To find the scale for a song or a set of chords, first find its key with the Song Key Finder, then look up that key's scale here to know exactly which notes to play or improvise with.
Why does it show B♭ instead of A♯?
Every scale is spelled the way musicians write it: each note uses its own letter name, so F major contains B♭, not A♯, and keys use their standard names.
Is the scale finder free?
Yes, it is completely free with no signup and no restrictions.
Does it work for guitar and piano?
Yes. The Scale Finder shows the scale on a two-octave piano keyboard and on a guitar fretboard in standard tuning, frets 0 to 12.
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About Scale Finder
Find 33 scales and modes in every key with correctly spelled notes, piano and guitar diagrams, diatonic chords and playback. Free online scale finder. MusicToolSet provides free online music tools for musicians, producers, DJs, and music students. No signup required, no downloads needed — use every tool right in your browser.