Finding a scale from notes
If you know the notes in a melody, a solo or a chord progression, the scale finder tells you which scales contain them. Tap each different note once (the octave does not matter) and the tool lists every scale in the library that includes all of them, tightest fit first. Each result links to a full page with the scale's notes, formula, piano diagram and chords.
Why several scales fit
Most scales share notes. Take the seven notes of C major: they are also A natural minor, D dorian, E phrygian, F lydian, G mixolydian and B locrian, because each of those is the same set of notes starting from a different place. When several scales fit, look at which note the music treats as home, and at the notes that distinguish the scales: a raised 4th suggests lydian, a flattened 7th suggests mixolydian, a flattened 2nd suggests phrygian.
Tips
- Include every different note in the passage, not just the ones you hear most.
- A single note outside the key (an accidental) can change the answer. Try with and without it.
- For chords, use the chord finder first, then tap the chord's notes here to see scales that fit it.
Browse the whole scales library, or check key signatures and relative keys on the key signature chart.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find the scale of a melody?
List the different notes the melody uses and tap them in the finder. Any scale that contains all of them is a candidate. If more than one fits, the one the melody starts and ends on is usually the tonic.
Why do so many scales match?
Scales overlap a lot. The notes of C major also belong to A natural minor, D dorian and four other modes. Pick more notes to narrow it down, especially notes that change between scales, like the 4th, 6th and 7th.
What is an exact match?
The scale contains exactly the notes you tapped and no others. Anything else is a larger scale that includes them.
What is the difference between a scale and a key?
A scale is a set of notes. A key is a scale plus a sense of home. The same notes form C major and A minor, but which one it feels like depends on where the music rests.