A diatonic scale uses seven of the twelve available notes in a
chromatic scale. See chromatic scales under the music theory
section of the web site.
There are several diatonic scales. Of those, we primarily use the
major scale and several types of minor scales. There are also
scales, or modes, that were used quite a bit several hundred years
ago. These are collectively called the 'church modes' and include
the Dorian, Phrygian, Lidian, and Mixolidian modes, plus others too
numerous to go into here. See Harvard dictionary of music or
other source for better explanation.
All these scale or mode types have a distinctive characteristic
sound. That is due to the size of the intervals between the seven
notes in the scale. No matter what note you begin a scale on, as
long as you adhere to this interval spacing, the music produced will
have that same characteristic to it. Changing the starting note
only makes the music lower or higher.
The following chart shows these scale types in relation to the 12-note
chromatic scale. Columns 1-12 in the chart represent the chromatic
scale's twelve consecutive notes a half step apart , plus column 13 for
the note an
octave above
the first note in the chromatic scale. Roman numerals indicate
the diatonic scale notes.
Chromatic scale
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Major
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
I
Natural Minor
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
I
Melodic Minor UP
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
I
Melodic Minor Down
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
I
Harmonic Minor
I
II
III
II
V
VI
VII
I
Dorian
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
I
Phrygian
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
I
Lidian
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
I
Mixolydian
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
I
To show the interval spacing in these scales, we'll number the notes in
the scale in roman numerals, I through VII, and then show the intervals
as m2 (minor second), M2 (major second) or M2+ (augmented second that
equals a minor 3rd.)
Scale: Major :
Pattern:
M2
M2
m2
M2
M2
M2 m2
Scale Tones
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII I
Example:
C
D
E
F
G
A
B C
Scale: Natural Minor
Pattern:
M2
m2
M2
M2
m2
M2 M2
Scale Tones
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
I
Example:
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
Scale: Melodic Minor, ascending
Pattern:
M2 m2
M2
M2
M2
M2 m2
Scale Tones
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII I
Example:
A
B
C
D
E
F#
G#
A
Scale: Melodic Minor, descending
Pattern:
M2 m2
M2
M2
m2
M2 M2
Scale Tones
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
I
Example:
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
Scale: Harmonic Minor
Pattern:
M2 m2
M2
M2
m2 M2+
m2
Scale Tones
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII I
Example:
A
B
C
D
E
F
G#
A
Scale: Dorian
Pattern:
M2 m2
M2
M2
M2 m2
M2
Scale Tones
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII I
Example: D
E F
G
A
B C
D
Scale: Phrygian
Pattern:
m2
M2
M2
M2 m2
M2 M2
Scale Tones I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
I
Example: E F
G
A
B C
D
E
Scale: Lydian
Pattern:
M2
M2
M2 m2
M2
M2
m2
Scale Tones
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII I
Example: F
G
A
B C
D
E F
Scale: MixoLydian
Pattern:
M2
M2 m2
M2
M2
m2 M2
Scale Tones
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
I
Example: G
A
B C
D
E
F
G
Now, the next thing is to see how to place one of these major or minor
scales in the key that you want to play in. That determines how
many sharps or flats you will need to use.