Scales That Fit With Chords

A common exercise for improvisers is to practice scales, and these do not have to be limited to the major and minor scales.  Learning other scales expands your resources for improvising and composition.

There are MANY different kinds of scales and tuning systems, some of which are quite exotic. Trying some out and practicing your favorites will open your ears and expand your vocabulary.

The classification of the modes was worked out to describe medieval Gregorian chants and are therefore referred to as "church modes".  They can be learned in two ways.  

First, you can remember them in terms of the key signatures they use.  The dorian mode is like starting a major scale on the second degree.  D dorian therefore has the same key signature as C major, since "D" is the second note of the C major scale.  F dorian would have the same key signature as Eb major:

There are seven modes, two of which you may already be familiar with by other names:

There is a mneumonic aid that can be used to remember the order of the modes:

I don't punch like Mohammed Ali

I(ionian) d(dorian)on't p(hrygian)unch l(ydian)ike M(ixolydian)ohammed A(eolian)l(ochrian)i

 

The second way to learn modes is to know what degrees have been modified relative to the major scale.  This is indicated using the numbers with "+" or "-" signs written underneath the pitches in the following examples.

Here is a basic collection of scales showing how they are altered in comparison with the degrees of the major scale.

Scales that fit with major chords

This is the major scale, from which come the unaltered degrees 1 through 7.  The C major scale fits with  C, Cmaj7, and Cmaj9 chords.

Lydian mode is like starting a major scale on the 4th degree.  For example, "C" is the 4th degree of the G major scale, so C lydian has the same set of notes as G major (one sharp).

 C  lydian fits with  C, Cmaj7, and Cmaj9 chords.

Scales that fit with dominant chords

Mixolydian mode is like starting a major scale on the fifth degree.  For example, "C" is the 5th note of the "G" scale, so C mixolydian has the same set of notes as F major (one flat).  C mixolydian fits with  C7 and C9 chords.

Lydian dominant is a hybrid of the "dominant" (mixolydian mode with -7) and "lydian" (lydian mode with +4).  C lydian fits with  C, C7, and C9 chords.

In the right musical context the blues scale can be played with major chords even though it has a -3.   C blues fits with C, Cm, C7, C9, Cm7, and Cm9chords.

Diminished scales are 8-note scales and are formed by alternating whole and half steps.  There are two forms, one that starts with a half step and then continues whole, half, whole, etc., and a second that starts with a whole step and then continues half, whole, half, etc.  The one starting on "C" with a half (shown above) fits C7, C7(b9), C°, and C°7chords.

Scales that fit with minor chords

Dorian is like starting on the second degree of a major scale.  For example, "C" is the second note of the Bb major scale, therefore C dorian has the same key signature as Bb major.  C dorian fits with Cm, Cm7, or Cm9.

C blues fits with C, Cm, C7, C9, Cm7, and Cm9chords.

The natural minor has the same key signature as its relative major.  It is like a major scale starting on the 6th degree, for example, "C" is the 6th note of the Eb major scale, so C natural minor (or C aeolian) has the same set of notes as Eb major.  C aeolian fits Cm, Cm7, and Cm9chords.

Phrygian mode is like starting a major scale on the 6th degree.  For example, C phrygian is the 6th note of the Ab major scale, so C phrygian has four flats, Bb, Eb, Ab, and Db.  C phrygian fits Cm, Cm7, and Cm9chords.

Scales that fit with diminished chords

The lochrian mode is like starting a major scale on the seventh degree.  For example, C lochrian has the same set of notes as Db major.  C lochrian fits Cm7(b5) and Cm9(b5) chords.

 

Quiz yourself

©2000 Robert Willey