15 essential scales and 5 different ways to play each
( I tabbed it all in the key of C)
C Major (Ionian) WWHWWWH
Type 1
---------------------------------------------------------7---8---
------------------------------------------------8---10-----------
-----------------------------------7---9---10--------------------
----------------------7---9---10---------------------------------
---------7---8---10----------------------------------------------
8---10-----------------------------------------------------------
Type 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------10---
-------------------------------------------------------10---12---13--------
---------------------------------------------10---12-----------------------
------------------------------10---12---14---------------------------------
---------------10---12---14------------------------------------------------
10---12---13---------------------------------------------------------------
Type 3
----------------------------------------------------------------------12---
-------------------------------------------------------12---13---15--------
---------------------------------------------12---14-----------------------
------------------------------12---14---15---------------------------------
---------------12---14---15------------------------------------------------
12---13---15---------------------------------------------------------------
Type 4
----------------------------------------------------1---3---
--------------------------------------------3---5-----------
--------------------------------2---4---5-------------------
--------------------2---3---5-------------------------------
--------2---3---5-------------------------------------------
3---5-------------------------------------------------------
Type 5
--------------------------------------------------------5---
--------------------------------------------5---6---8-------
------------------------------------5---7-------------------
------------------------5---7---9---------------------------
------------5---7---8---------------------------------------
5---7---8---------------------------------------------------
C Natural Minor (Aeolian) WHWWHWW
Type 1
---------------------------------------------------------------------(8)---
------------------------------------------------------------9---11---------
----------------------------------------------8---10---12------------------
------------------------------8---(10)---12--------------------------------
----------------8---10---11------------------------------------------------
(8)---10---11--------------------------------------------------------------
Type 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------11-
--------------------------------------------------------------(13)---15------
-----------------------------------------------12---13---15------------------
--------------------------------12---13---15---------------------------------
---------------11---13---(15)------------------------------------------------
11---13---15-----------------------------------------------------------------
Type 3
------------------------------------------------------------1---
----------------------------------------------(1)---3---4-------
--------------------------------------1---3---------------------
--------------------------1---3---5-----------------------------
------------1---(3)---5-----------------------------------------
1---3---4-------------------------------------------------------
Type 4
------------------------------------------------------------3---
------------------------------------------------3---4---6-------
--------------------------------------3---(5)-------------------
--------------------------3---5---6-----------------------------
------------(3)---5---6-----------------------------------------
3---4---6-------------------------------------------------------
Type 5
----------------------------------------------------------------6---
--------------------------------------------------------8---9-------
-------------------------------------------7---8---10---------------
----------------------------6---8---(10)----------------------------
---------------6---8---10-------------------------------------------
6---(8)---10--------------------------------------------------------
C Dorian WHWWWHW
Type 1
---------------------------------------------------------------------(8)---
-------------------------------------------------------8---10---11---------
----------------------------------------------8---10-----------------------
------------------------------8---(10)---12--------------------------------
----------------8---10---12------------------------------------------------
(8)---10---11--------------------------------------------------------------
Type 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------11-
--------------------------------------------------------------(13)---15------
-----------------------------------------------12---14---15------------------
--------------------------------12---13---15---------------------------------
---------------12---13---(15)------------------------------------------------
11---13---15-----------------------------------------------------------------
Type 3
------------------------------------------------------------1---
----------------------------------------------------3---4-------
--------------------------------------2---3---(5)---------------
--------------------------1---3---5-----------------------------
------------1---(3)---5-----------------------------------------
1---3---5-------------------------------------------------------
Type 4
------------------------------------------------------------3---
------------------------------------------------3---4---6-------
--------------------------------------3---(5)-------------------
--------------------------3---5---7-----------------------------
------------(3)---5---6-----------------------------------------
3---5---6-------------------------------------------------------
Type 5
--------------------------------------------------------5---6---
------------------------------------------------6---8-----------
----------------------------------(5)---7---8-------------------
----------------------5---7---8---------------------------------
----------5---6---8---------------------------------------------
6---(8)---------------------------------------------------------
C Phrygian HWWWHWW
Type 1
-------------------------------------------------------------------(8)---
------------------------------------------------------8---9---11---------
---------------------------------------------8---10----------------------
-----------------------------8---(10)---11-------------------------------
---------------8---10---11-----------------------------------------------
(8)---9---11-------------------------------------------------------------
Type 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------11-
--------------------------------------------------------------(13)---14------
-----------------------------------------------12---13---15------------------
--------------------------------11---13---15---------------------------------
---------------11---13---(15)------------------------------------------------
11---13---15-----------------------------------------------------------------
Type 3
------------------------------------------------------------1---
----------------------------------------------(1)---2---4-------
--------------------------------------1---3---------------------
--------------------------1---3---5-----------------------------
------------1---(3)---4-----------------------------------------
1---3---4-------------------------------------------------------
Type 4
------------------------------------------------------------3---
----------------------------------------------------4---6-------
--------------------------------------3---(5)---6---------------
--------------------------3---5---6-----------------------------
------------(3)---4---6-----------------------------------------
3---4---6-------------------------------------------------------
Type 5
-------------------------------------------------------------6---
-------------------------------------------------6---8---9-------
-----------------------------------------6---8-------------------
--------------------------6---8---(10)---------------------------
--------------6---8---10-----------------------------------------
6---(8)---9------------------------------------------------------
C Lydian WWWHWWH
Type 1
------------------------------------------------------------7---(8)---
-----------------------------------------------7---8---10-------------
---------------------------------------7---9--------------------------
------------------------7---9---(10)----------------------------------
-----------7---9---10-------------------------------------------------
(8)---10--------------------------------------------------------------
Type 2
----------------------------------------------------------------(8)---10---
------------------------------------------------------10---12--------------
----------------------------------------9---11---12------------------------
------------------------9---(10)---12--------------------------------------
----------9---10---12------------------------------------------------------
10---12--------------------------------------------------------------------
Type 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------12-
---------------------------------------------------------12---(13)---15------
-----------------------------------------------12---14-----------------------
--------------------------------12---14---16---------------------------------
---------------12---14---(15)------------------------------------------------
12---14---15-----------------------------------------------------------------
Type 4
--------------------------------------------------------2---3---
------------------------------------------------3---5-----------
----------------------------------2---4---(5)-------------------
----------------------2---4---5---------------------------------
--------2---(3)---5---------------------------------------------
3---5-----------------------------------------------------------
Type 5
------------------------------------------------------------5---
------------------------------------------------5---7---8-------
--------------------------------------(5)---7-------------------
--------------------------5---7---9-----------------------------
--------------5---7---9-----------------------------------------
5---7---(8)-----------------------------------------------------
C Mixolydian WWHWWHW
Type 1
-------------------------------------------------------------6---(8)---
----------------------------------------------------8---10-------------
---------------------------------------7---9---10----------------------
------------------------7---8---(10)-----------------------------------
-----------7---8---10--------------------------------------------------
(8)---10---------------------------------------------------------------
Type 2
-------------------------------------------------------------------------10--
--------------------------------------------------------10---11---(13)-------
----------------------------------------------10---12------------------------
-----------------------------(10)---12---14----------------------------------
--------------10---12---14---------------------------------------------------
10---12---14-----------------------------------------------------------------
Type 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------12-
--------------------------------------------------------------(13)---15------
-----------------------------------------------12---14---15------------------
--------------------------------12---14---15---------------------------------
---------------12---13---(15)------------------------------------------------
12---13---15-----------------------------------------------------------------
Type 4
------------------------------------------------------------3---
------------------------------------------------3---5---6-------
--------------------------------------3---(5)-------------------
--------------------------3---5---7-----------------------------
------------(3)---5---7-----------------------------------------
3---5---6-------------------------------------------------------
Type 5
------------------------------------------------------------5---
------------------------------------------------5---6---8-------
--------------------------------------(5)---7-------------------
--------------------------5---7---8-----------------------------
--------------5---7---8-----------------------------------------
5---6---(8)-----------------------------------------------------
C Locrian HWWHWWW
Type 1
-------------------------------------------------------------------(8)---
----------------------------------------------------------9---11---------
--------------------------------------------8---10---11------------------
----------------------------8---(10)---11--------------------------------
---------------8---9---11------------------------------------------------
(8)---9---11-------------------------------------------------------------
Type 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------11-
---------------------------------------------------------11---(13)---14------
-----------------------------------------------11---13-----------------------
--------------------------------11---13---15---------------------------------
---------------11---13---(15)------------------------------------------------
11---13---14-----------------------------------------------------------------
Type 3
------------------------------------------------------------1---
----------------------------------------------(1)---2---4-------
--------------------------------------1---3---------------------
--------------------------1---3---4-----------------------------
------------1---(3)---4-----------------------------------------
1---2---4-------------------------------------------------------
[ Tab from: http://www.guitaretab.com/m/misc-scales/48551.html ]
Type 4
------------------------------------------------------------2---
----------------------------------------------------4---6-------
--------------------------------------3---(5)---6---------------
--------------------------3---4---6-----------------------------
------------(3)---4---6-----------------------------------------
2---4---6-------------------------------------------------------
Type 5
--------------------------------------------------------------6---
------------------------------------------------------7---9-------
-----------------------------------------6---8---10---------------
--------------------------6---8---(10)----------------------------
--------------6---8---9-------------------------------------------
6---(8)---9-------------------------------------------------------
C harmonic minor WHWWHm3H
Type 1
---------------------------------------------------------------------(8)---
------------------------------------------------------------9---12---------
----------------------------------------------8---10---12------------------
------------------------------9---(10)---12--------------------------------
----------------8---10---11------------------------------------------------
(8)---10---11--------------------------------------------------------------
Type 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------11-
---------------------------------------------------------12---(13)---15------
-----------------------------------------------12---13-----------------------
--------------------------------12---13---15---------------------------------
---------------11---14---(15)------------------------------------------------
11---13---15-----------------------------------------------------------------
Type 3
------------------------------------------------------------1---
----------------------------------------------(1)---3---4-------
--------------------------------------1---4---------------------
--------------------------1---3---5-----------------------------
------------2---(3)---5-----------------------------------------
1---3---4-------------------------------------------------------
Type 4
------------------------------------------------------------3---
------------------------------------------------3---4---6-------
--------------------------------------3---(5)-------------------
--------------------------3---5---6-----------------------------
------------(3)---5---6-----------------------------------------
3---4---7-------------------------------------------------------
Type 5
----------------------------------------------------------------7---
--------------------------------------------------------8---9-------
-------------------------------------------7---8---10---------------
----------------------------6---9---(10)----------------------------
---------------6---8---10-------------------------------------------
7---(8)---10--------------------------------------------------------
C jazz melodic minor WHWWWWH
Type 1
---------------------------------------------------------------------(8)---
-------------------------------------------------------8---10---12---------
----------------------------------------------8---10-----------------------
------------------------------9---(10)---12--------------------------------
----------------8---10---12------------------------------------------------
(8)---10---11--------------------------------------------------------------
Type 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------11-
---------------------------------------------------------12---(13)---15------
-----------------------------------------------12---14-----------------------
--------------------------------12---13---15---------------------------------
---------------12---14---(15)------------------------------------------------
11---13---15-----------------------------------------------------------------
Type 3
------------------------------------------------------------1---
----------------------------------------------------3---4-------
--------------------------------------2---4---(5)---------------
--------------------------1---3---5-----------------------------
------------2---(3)---5-----------------------------------------
1---3---5-------------------------------------------------------
Type 4
------------------------------------------------------------3---
----------------------------------------------------4---6-------
--------------------------------------4---(5)---7---------------
--------------------------3---5---7-----------------------------
------------(3)---5---6-----------------------------------------
3---5---7-------------------------------------------------------
Type 5
-----------------------------------------------------------------7---
--------------------------------------------------------8---10-------
-------------------------------------------7---8---10----------------
----------------------------7---9---(10)-----------------------------
---------------6---8---10--------------------------------------------
7---(8)---10---------------------------------------------------------
C Lydian flat-seven WWWHWHW
Type 1
------------------------------------------------------------6---(8)---
-----------------------------------------------7---8---10-------------
---------------------------------------7---9--------------------------
------------------------7---8---(10)----------------------------------
-----------7---9---10-------------------------------------------------
(8)---10--------------------------------------------------------------
Type 2
----------------------------------------------------------------(8)---10---
------------------------------------------------------10---12--------------
----------------------------------------9---11---12------------------------
------------------------9---(10)---12--------------------------------------
----------9---10---12------------------------------------------------------
10---12--------------------------------------------------------------------
Type 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------12-
---------------------------------------------------------12---(13)---15------
-----------------------------------------------12---14-----------------------
--------------------------------12---14---16---------------------------------
---------------12---14---(15)------------------------------------------------
12---14---15-----------------------------------------------------------------
Type 4
--------------------------------------------------------2---3---
------------------------------------------------3---5-----------
----------------------------------2---4---(5)-------------------
----------------------2---4---5---------------------------------
--------2---(3)---5---------------------------------------------
3---5-----------------------------------------------------------
Type 5
------------------------------------------------------------5---
------------------------------------------------5---7---8-------
--------------------------------------(5)---7-------------------
--------------------------5---7---9-----------------------------
--------------5---7---9-----------------------------------------
5---7---(8)-----------------------------------------------------
C whole tone WWWWWW
Type 1
---------------------------------------------------------8---
------------------------------------------------9---11-------
-----------------------------------7---9---11----------------
------------------------8---(10)-----------------------------
-----------7---9---11----------------------------------------
(8)---10-----------------------------------------------------
Type 2
----------------------------------------------------2---
--------------------------------------------3---5-------
----------------------------------3---(5)---------------
----------------------2---4---6-------------------------
------------(3)---5-------------------------------------
2---4---6-----------------------------------------------
C diminished (whole-half) WHWHWHWH
Type 1
----------------------------------------------------------------------7---(8)
---------------------------------------------------------7---9---10----------
--------------------------------------------7---8---10-----------------------
-----------------------------7---9---(10)------------------------------------
----------------8---9---11---------------------------------------------------
(8)---10---11----------------------------------------------------------------
Type 2
----------------------------------------------------------------2---4---
----------------------------------------------------3---4---6-----------
--------------------------------------2---4---(5)-----------------------
--------------------------3---4---6-------------------------------------
------------(3)---5---6-------------------------------------------------
4---5---7---------------------------------------------------------------
C pentatonic (major) WWm3Wm3
Type 1
-----------------------------------------------(8)---
--------------------------------------8---10---------
------------------------------7---9------------------
--------------------7---(10)-------------------------
-----------7---10------------------------------------
(8)---10---------------------------------------------
Type 2
----------------------------------------------------10---
-----------------------------------------10---(13)-------
--------------------------------9---12-------------------
--------------------(10)---12----------------------------
----------10---12----------------------------------------
10---12--------------------------------------------------
Type 3
------------------------------------------------------12---
------------------------------------------(13)---15--------
--------------------------------12---14--------------------
----------------------12---14------------------------------
----------12---(15)----------------------------------------
12---15----------------------------------------------------
Type 4
--------------------------------------------3---
------------------------------------3---5-------
--------------------------2---(5)---------------
------------------2---5-------------------------
--------(3)---5---------------------------------
3---5-------------------------------------------
Type 5
--------------------------------------------5---
------------------------------------5---8-------
--------------------------(5)---7---------------
------------------5---7-------------------------
----------5---7---------------------------------
5---(8)-----------------------------------------
C pentatonic (minor) m3WWm3W
Type 1
-------------------------------------------------8---
----------------------------------------8---11-------
-------------------------------8---10----------------
--------------------8---(10)-------------------------
-----------8---10------------------------------------
(8)---11---------------------------------------------
Type 2
----------------------------------------------------11---
------------------------------------------11---13--------
--------------------------------10---12------------------
--------------------(10)---13----------------------------
----------10---13----------------------------------------
11---13--------------------------------------------------
Type 3
--------------------------------------------1---
----------------------------------(1)---4-------
--------------------------0---3-----------------
------------------1---3-------------------------
--------1---(3)---------------------------------
1---3-------------------------------------------
Type 4
--------------------------------------------3---
------------------------------------4---6-------
--------------------------3---(5)---------------
------------------3---5-------------------------
--------(3)---6---------------------------------
3---6-------------------------------------------
Type 5
--------------------------------------------6---
------------------------------------6---8-------
--------------------------(5)---8---------------
------------------5---8-------------------------
----------6---8---------------------------------
6---(8)-----------------------------------------
C blues scale (with major third and flatted fifth) m3HHHHm3W
Type 1
----------------------------------------------------------------8---
-------------------------------------------------------8---11-------
-------------------------------------8---9---10---11----------------
----------------------------8---10----------------------------------
-----------7---8---9---10-------------------------------------------
(8)---11------------------------------------------------------------
Type 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------11-
--------------------------------------------------------------11---(13)------
-----------------------------------------------10---11---12------------------
------------------------------(10)---13---14---------------------------------
--------------------10---13--------------------------------------------------
11---12---13---14------------------------------------------------------------
Type 3
----------------------------------------------------------------11---12---13-
----------------------------------------------------11---(13)----------------
------------------------------------------11---12----------------------------
---------------------------13---14---15--------------------------------------
---------------13---(15)-----------------------------------------------------
13---14---15-----------------------------------------------------------------
Type 4
--------------------------------------------------------2---3---
--------------------------------------------4---5---6-----------
----------------------------------3---(5)-----------------------
------------------2---3---4---5---------------------------------
--------(3)---6-------------------------------------------------
3---6-----------------------------------------------------------
Type 5
------------------------------------------------------------6---
--------------------------------------------5---6---7---8-------
----------------------------------(5)---8-----------------------
--------------------------5---8---------------------------------
----------6---7---8---9-----------------------------------------
6---(8)---------------------------------------------------------
thanks for reading this. this can definetely boost your soloing power
