What Scales To Play Over Chords - 17 Essential Scale Shapes

Over Major Chords

Here are the following scales that can be used over

• Maj7
• Maj9
• Maj6
• Maj11
• Maj13 chords.

The Ionian mode (aka major scale)

The ionian mode is best know as the major scale, it is generally the first choice when improvising over major chords. The formula is :

• 1 - Root 
• 2 (9)  - Second or ninth 
• 3 - Major third
• 4 (11) - Fourth or eleventh
• 5 - Fifth
• 6 (13) - Sixth or thirteenth
• 7 - Seventh

The Major Pentatonic Scale

The major pentatonic scale is simply the major scale without the fourth and the seventh. It is built with:

• 1 - Root 
• 2 (9)  - Second or ninth 
• 3 - Major third
• 5 - Fifth
• 6 (13) - Sixth or thirteenth

The Major Bebop Scale

The major bebop scale is the Ionian mode with a passing tone (#5) between the fifth (5) and the sixth (6). As its name implies it is widely used in bebop.

• 1 - Root 
• 2 (9)  - Second or ninth 
• 3 - Major third
• 4 (11) - Fourth or eleventh
• 5 - Fifth
• #5 - Augmented fifth (passing tone)
• 6 (13) - Sixth or thirteenth
• 7 - Seventh

Over Minor Chords

Here is a list of scales that can be played over :

• min7
• min6
• min 9
• min11
• min13 chords

The Dorian Mode

The Dorian mode is the most known of the minor scales, this is the second mode of the major scale. The formula is :

• 1 - Root 
• 2 (9)  - Second or ninth 
• b3 - Minor third
• 4 (11) - Fourth or eleventh
• 5 - Fifth
• 6 (13) - Sixth or thirteenth
• b7 - Minor seventh

The Minor Pentatonic Scale

The minor pentatonic scale is one of the most important scale in blues and jazz music. It share the same notes with the Dorian mode without the second (2) and the sixth (6).

• 1 - Root 
• b3 - Minor third
• 4 (11) - Fourth or eleventh
• 5 - Fifth
• b7 - Minor seventh

The minor blues scale (with a b5)

You can see the minor blues scale as a minor pentatonic scale with a supplementary note. This first example (there are two other minor blues scale) is shown with a b5 between the fourth (4) and the fifth (5). This is the most used of the three minor blues scales.

• 1 - Root 
• b3 - Minor third
• 4 (11) - Fourth or eleventh
• b5 - flat fifth (passing tone)
• 5 - Fifth
• b7 - Minor seventh

The minor blues scale (with a major third)

This is the minor pentatonic scale with a passing tone, the major third (3) between the minor third (b3) and the fourth (4).

• 1 - Root 
• b3 - Minor third
• 3 - Major third (passing tone)
• 4 - Fourth or eleventh
• 5 - Fifth
• b7 - Minor seventh

The minor blues scale (with a major seventh)

This is the last of a serie of three minor blues scales. This one has a major seventh (7) between the minor seventh (b7) and the root (1).

• 1 - Root 
• b3 - Minor third
• 4 - Fourth or eleventh
• 5 - Fifth
• b7 - Minor seventh
• 7 - Major seventh (passing tone)

Minor Bebop Scale

The minor bebop scale or Dorian bebop scale is commonly used in bebop. This is an eight note scale (octatonic). You see it as the Dorian mode with an added note (the major third) between the minor third (b3) and the fourth (4).

• 1 - Root 
• 2 (9)  - Second or ninth 
• b3 - Minor third
• 3 - Major third (passing tone)
• 4 (11) - Fourth or eleventh
• 5 - Fifth
• 6 (13) - Sixth or thirteenth
• b7 - Minor seventh

Over Dominant Chords

The following scales can be used on dominant chords (non-altered) as :

• 7
• 9
• 11
• 13

The Mixolydian scale

This is the fifth mode of the major scale, an obvious choice to play over dominant chords. The formula is :

• 1 - Root 
• 2 (9)  - Second or ninth 
• 3 - Major third
• 4 (11) - Fourth or eleventh
• 5 - Fifth
• 6 (13) - Sixth or thirteenth
• b7 - Minor seventh

Over Diminished Chords

Here are some scales to play over diminished chords

The Whole-half Diminished Scale

The Whole-half diminished scale, also called "Fully Diminished scale" should not be confused with the Dominant Diminished scale which is employed over altered dominant chords. The Whole-half diminished scale is a symmetrical scale built with :

• 1 - Root 
• 2 (9)  - Second or ninth 
• b3 - Minor third
• 4 (11) - Fourth or eleventh
• b5 - Diminished fifth
• #5 - Augmented fifth
• 6 or 13 or bb7 - Sixth or thirteenth or diminished seventh
• 7 - Major seventh

The Super Locrian bb7 mode

The super Locrian bb7 scale is the seventh mode of the harmonic minor scale. It is also named Ultra Locrian or super Locrian diminished scale.

• 1 - Root 
• b2 (b9)  - Minor second or flat ninth 
• b3 - Minor third
• b4 (b11) - Diminished fourth or diminished eleventh
• b5 - Diminished fifth
• b6 (b13) - Minor sixth of flat thirteenth
• bb7 - Diminished seventh

The Locrian bb7 Mode

The Locrian bb7 mode is the seventh mode of the harmonic major scale.

• 1 - Root 
• b2 (b9)  - Minor second or flat ninth 
• b3 - Minor third
• 4 (11) -  Fourth or eleventh
• b5 - Diminished fifth
• b6 (b13) - Minor sixth of flat thirteenth
• bb7 - Diminished seventh