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
˙˙˙
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˙ ˙

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

bb 9
related to traditional music.
Cm maj7 Dø7 b
E m aj7 5 # Fm 9 G7 13 b
A m aj7 B°7

b ˙˙˙ ˙˙˙ b ˙˙˙

b b ˙˙˙˙
˙˙˙ b
& b n ˙˙˙˙ b ˙˙˙˙ n
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

˙ 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
Aø7 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
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
#˙ ˙