Who this is for
Learners who know the modes and seventh chords and want to improvise or write melodies over changes. Already choose scales by chord? Test out on Day 5.
Best done after: The Modes, Extensions & Altered Dominants. It is advice, not a rule: every lesson has short "rusty on…?" boxes for anything you skipped.
Why learn this
Knowing the chords of a tune tells you the harmony. Knowing the **scale for each chord** tells you the **melody notes** that fit. That is the core of improvising and of writing lines that sound "in the chord".
The system is simple: each chord has a home scale, a scale that contains the chord tones and the extensions that sound good. This program teaches the matches, starting with the four chords of the major scale and moving to altered and minor-family chords.
What you will be able to do
- The mode over each major-scale chord
- Why Dorian fits m7 and Mixolydian fits 7
- Melodic minor and its chords
- Lydian and lydian dominant
- Altered and whole tone scales
- Applying chord scales to ii–V–I
The 5-day plan
- Four chords, four modes. Match Ionian, Dorian, Mixolydian and Locrian to maj7, m7, 7 and m7♭5.
- Chord tones, extensions and avoid notes. Know which scale notes are chord tones, which are good colour and which to avoid.
- Melodic minor and Lydian. Use melodic minor, Lydian and lydian dominant over their chords.
- Altered and whole tone. Choose the altered or whole tone scale over a tense dominant chord.
- Scales for a ii–V–I. Choose a scale for each chord of a ii–V–I and explain the choice.
How each session works
Every day follows the shape of a workout. It starts with a warm-up that reviews earlier days, then technique: a short, plain explanation with a small interactive tool to try it on. Then come the working sets, drills with instant feedback, and a finisher, a short test with a pass mark so you only build on things you can do. A cool-down recaps the day and previews the next.
Choose your split
The daily split is a session a day: done in a week. The easy split is a session every other day, with rest days between: two weeks, and a gentler pace. On your own pace there is no schedule. Nothing is ever locked, and you can change split at any time.
Frequently asked questions
What is the chord-scale approach?
Choose a scale for each chord, so every note you play is a chord tone or an available extension. It gives improvisers a safe set of notes for each chord.
Which scale for a minor 7th chord?
Dorian by default. If the chord is vi in a major key, Aeolian (natural minor); if iii, Phrygian. Dorian is the safe, common choice.
Which scale for a dominant chord?
Mixolydian for a plain 7th chord; lydian dominant for 7♯11; altered for 7alt or 7♭9♯9; harmonic-minor mode 5 (Phrygian dominant) for 7♭9 resolving to minor.
What are avoid notes?
Scale notes that clash with the chord when held, such as the natural 4th over a major 7th chord. You can pass through them but do not land on them.