Guitar scale trainer
Pick any key and study major, minor, pentatonic, blues, dorian, and mixolydian patterns on the fretboard.
Root note
Scale
A Minor pentatonic
Rock and blues default — most lead guitar lives here.
A Minor pentatonic across 12 frets. Root A. Notes A C D E G.
- open E string, E — scale tone
- E string fret 3, G — scale tone
- E string fret 5, A — root
- E string fret 8, C — scale tone
- E string fret 10, D — scale tone
- E string fret 12, E — scale tone
- open A string, A — root
- A string fret 3, C — scale tone
- A string fret 5, D — scale tone
- A string fret 7, E — scale tone
- A string fret 10, G — scale tone
- A string fret 12, A — root
- open D string, D — scale tone
- D string fret 2, E — scale tone
- D string fret 5, G — scale tone
- D string fret 7, A — root
- D string fret 10, C — scale tone
- D string fret 12, D — scale tone
- open G string, G — scale tone
- G string fret 2, A — root
- G string fret 5, C — scale tone
- G string fret 7, D — scale tone
- G string fret 9, E — scale tone
- G string fret 12, G — scale tone
- B string fret 1, C — scale tone
- B string fret 3, D — scale tone
- B string fret 5, E — scale tone
- B string fret 8, G — scale tone
- B string fret 10, A — root
- open e string, E — scale tone
- e string fret 3, G — scale tone
- e string fret 5, A — root
- e string fret 8, C — scale tone
- e string fret 10, D — scale tone
- e string fret 12, E — scale tone
Root note in amber. All other scale tones outlined.
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The 7 scales, formula and feel
Each scale is a formula of whole (W) and half (H) steps from the root, and the same pattern transposes to any key.
| Scale | Step formula | Semitone offsets | Sounds like |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major | W W H W W W H | 0 2 4 5 7 9 11 | Bright, happy, the default for most pop and folk. |
| Natural minor | W H W W H W W | 0 2 3 5 7 8 10 | Darker, melancholy. Sad ballads, minor-key rock. |
| Major pentatonic | W W 3sts W 3sts | 0 2 4 7 9 | Country, classic rock, melodic solos. |
| Minor pentatonic | 3sts W W 3sts W | 0 3 5 7 10 | Rock and blues default — most lead guitar lives here. |
| Blues | 3sts W H H 3sts W | 0 3 5 6 7 10 | Minor pentatonic + the b5 'blue note'. |
| Dorian | W H W W W H W | 0 2 3 5 7 9 10 | Jazz, funk, jam-band staple. Minor with a raised 6th. |
| Mixolydian | W W H W W H W | 0 2 4 5 7 9 10 | Major with a flat 7. Classic rock and Celtic. |