A Comprehensive Guide to Major & Minor Scales – Your Ultimate Interactive Piano Resource

**Visual and Interactive Chart for Major and Natural Minor Scales**

**Major and Natural Minor Scales: An Introduction**

Major and natural minor scales are types of diatonic scales that are commonly used in Western music. These scales consist of 7 notes and are formed with a pattern of 5 whole steps and 2 half steps per octave. The half steps are either 2 or 3 whole steps apart from each other. The major scale is the most popular and acts as the basis for many other scales, including the natural minor scale.

If you’re interested in learning more about music theory, you might find this music theory cheat sheet helpful.

**All Major Scales**

Major scales are formed using a specific pattern of whole steps and half steps. The formula for a major scale is 1 2 3 4 5 6 7, with whole steps between the first and second, second and third, fourth and fifth, fifth and sixth, and sixth and seventh notes, and a half step between the third and fourth and seventh and eighth notes.

**Major Scales on Piano**

Here is a chart of major scales on the piano, arranged in order of fifths. This chart shows that there is only one note difference (at the 7th scale degree) between scales formed from keys that are separated by a fifth. You can click play on any scale to hear its pitches played up and down. Additionally, you can use the lock icon and the keys 1-7 on your keyboard to trigger the chords of a specific scale.

**All Natural Minor Scales**

Natural minor scales are the default when referring to minor scales. These scales have a different pattern of whole steps and half steps compared to major scales. The formula for a natural minor scale is 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7, with whole steps between the first and second, third and fourth, fourth and fifth, fifth and sixth, and sixth and seventh notes, and a half step between the second and third and seventh and eighth notes.

**Minor Scales on Piano**

Here is a chart of natural minor scales on the piano, also arranged in order of fifths. The chart shows that the note that differs between scales with keys separated by a fifth is at the 2nd scale degree for minor scales.