Hey everybody,
I am looking for a complete (or at least almost complete) list of scales in a simple, text (or HTML) format.
I found a software called Musical Scales which seem to have a good list, but if I want to copy it to a text format, I will have to work a lot - it is designed for interactive work.
I also found Suva’s Renoise Scale Finder which is very helpful, but I am not sure how complete is the list.
Thanks in advance, if anyone has a reference.
There are maximum of 12 notes in a scale you know. So there really can’t be infinite number of combinations. Minor and Major is what are most important. But generally my Scale Finder offers a good subsection of possible scales. Most scales not to be found in my scale finder are duplicates with other names.
Also scale itself is not that important rather than what you do with it. Many odd scales are odd for a reason. As they are played in a special way and usually with a special instrument.
Scale finder will in near future, have a “Scale/Chord Study” feature, which builds a printable version of selected Scale and chords with added history and instructions how to take advantage of the specialities of the scale. I couldn’t find exact details on all of the scales I dug up, but I have something. 
But for mechanic use of odd scales. It’s not really useful, as you need lot more than just scale pattern to make it sound right.
For the patterns you can get them from here:
Hey Suva,
Thanks for posting back here so quickly.
Your scale finder helps a lot, and is what triggered my search. I looked in your neat javascripts…
I noticed you have some oriental and arabian scales missing - perhaps you are using different names here?
I am not at all familiar with the scale groups, besides the basic knowledge of the popular scale types, so I was hoping there is one definitive list somewhere.
Each site shows a different list, and I was unable to find a plain wiki page with such a list.
Have you tried this on Wikipedia?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_mode
I don’t know how much you want to get deep in modal music. There are many modes around the world, and I haven’t seen any source including all of them. If you put another step forward and think of scales that contain quarter-notes (like Persian, Arabic and Indian modes) then there’s plenty of them. What are you exactly looking for?
Thanks Ashkan,
I am not looking to get too deep into the theories and such, but I would like to have a list (and yes, Persian and Arabian are of a huge interest to me).
A list for example:
Major-Ionian (Major)=“C D E F G A B”
Major-Lydian=“C D E F# G A B”
Major-Locrian=“B# C# D# E# F# G# A#”
Or, another style that is more programming friendly, used by Suva (twelve notes, each one on or off):
Major=101011010101
Natural Minor=101101011010
Harmonic Minor=101101011001
Melodic Minor=101101010101
I am looking to incorporate scales and chords into RPG, so the more scales, the merrier… I guess.
There are 2047 scales using 13 notes.
Its possible to build beyond the 13 note scale.
Not all these scales are musically useful.
Left=number of notes in the scale including Tonic key and octave
Right=number of possible scales
3 _ 11
4 _ 55
5 _ 165
6 _ 330
7 _ 462
8 _ 462
9 _ 330
10 _ 165
11 _ 55
12 _ 11
13 _ 1 (chromatic scale, all notes used)
Sample of a 6 note scale from 1-105 (330 possibilities).
My numerical list is in jpg and word format. The white boxes indicate Tonic and Octave.
If you want it, let me know.
Thanks buddy,
I bumped into this page also - it may be useful.
I’ll update my scale list maybe later today. To add those ethnic scales. I need to check out their details.
Thats nice Suva. I liked your implementation.
I think I will sit down and manually generate all the scales that appear in the Musical Scales software, and will use a human readable format (“C D D#”…)
Then, I will make an internal converter in RPG to convert it to your boolean style.
Did someone mention topic with link to xrns containing lot’s of scales ?
http://www.renoise.com/board/index.php?sho…c=15644&hl=
Thanks. Helpful thread.
Share those with rest of the community aswell. 
Of course
In fact, I will probably do it so the human readable scales and chords reside in an external txt file, so that people can add/remove/rename scales and chords.
I looked at the Piano Room site, and they have a nice list there - maybe I will use it.
Too many lists and notation ways and categorizations…
Also, I wanted to ask you - in your finder you only used four chords - was there a reason?
I am thinking of adding more, I am just not sure which…
In the piano room they have a nice list, and some chords have a lighter dot, for example
Cmaj9 = C,E,(G),B,D
What is this lighter (bracketed) note?
Ok, so I think I have a good list - Suva, I hope this helps in your quest as well - a converter to your 1010 format is a 3 liner js function for you…
Major=C,D,E,F,G,A,B
Harmonic Minor=C,D,Eb,F,G,Ab,B
Melodic Minor (Ascending)=C,D,Eb,F,G,A,B
Melodic Minor (Descending)=C,D,Eb,F,G,Ab,Bb
Chromatic=C,Db,D,Eb,E,F,Gb,G,G#,A,Bb,B
Whole Tone=C,D,E,F#,G#,Bb
Pentatonic Major=C,D,E,G,A
Pentatonic Minor=C,Eb,F,G,Bb
Pentatonic Blues=C,Eb,F,Gb,G,Bb
Pentatonic Neutral=C,D,F,G,Bb
Octatonic (H-W)=C,Db,Eb,E,Gb,G,A,Bb
Octatonic (W-H)=C,D,Eb,F,Gb,Ab,A,B
Ionian=C,D,E,F,G,A,B
Dorian=C,D,Eb,F,G,A,Bb
Phrygian=C,Db,Eb,F,G,Ab,Bb
Lydian=C,D,E,F#,G,A,B
Mixolydian=C,D,E,F,G,A,Bb
Aeolian=C,D,Eb,F,G,Ab,Bb
Locrian=C,Db,Eb,F,Gb,Ab,Bb
Algerian=C,D,Eb,F,F#,G,Ab,B
Arabian (a)=C,D,Eb,F,F#,G#,A,B
Arabian (b)=C,D,E,F,F#,G#,Bb
Augmented=C,D#,E,F#,G#,B
Auxiliary Diminished=C,D,Eb,F,F#,G#,A,B
Auxiliary Augmented=C,D,E,F#,G#,A#
Auxiliary Diminished Blues=C,Db,Eb,E,Gb,G,A,Bb
Balinese=C,Db,Eb,G,Ab
Blues=C,Eb,F,F#,G,Bb
Byzantine=C,Db,E,F,G,Ab,B
Chinese=C,E,F#,G,B
Chinese Mongolian=C,D,E,G,A
Diatonic=C,D,E,G,A
Diminished=C,D,Eb,F,Gb,Ab,A,B
Diminished, Half=C,Db,Eb,E,Gb,G,A,Bb
Diminished, Whole=C,D,Eb,F,Gb,Ab,A,B
Diminished Whole Tone=C,Db,Eb,E,Gb,Ab,Bb
Dominant 7th=C,D,E,F,G,A,Bb
Double Harmonic=C,Db,E,F,G,Ab,B
Egyptian=C,D,F,G,Bb
Eight Tone Spanish=C,Db,D#,E,F,Gb,Ab,Bb
Enigmatic=C,Db,E,F#,G#,A#,B
Ethiopian (A raray)=C,D,E,F,G,A,B
Ethiopian (Geez & Ezel)=C,D,Eb,F,G,Ab,Bb
Half Diminished (Locrian)=C,Db,Eb,F,Gb,Ab,Bb
Half Diminished #2 (Locrian #2)=C,D,Eb,F,Gb,Ab,Bb
Hawaiian=C,D,Eb,F,G,A,B
Hindu=C,D,E,F,G,Ab,Bb
Hindustan=C,D,E,F,G,Ab,Bb
Hirajoshi=C,D,Eb,G,Ab
Hungarian Major=C,D#,E,F#,G,A,Bb
Hungarian Gypsy=C,D,Eb,F#,G,Ab,B
Hungarian Gypsy Persian=C,Db,E,F,G,Ab,B
Hungarian Minor=C,D,Eb,F#,G,Ab,B
Japanese (A)=C,Db,F,G,Ab
Japanese (B)=C,D,F,G,Ab
Japanese (Ichikosucho)=C,D,E,F,F#,G,A,B
Japanese (Taishikicho)=C,D,E,F,F#,G,A,A#,B
Javaneese=C,Db,Eb,F,G,A,Bb
Jewish (Adonai Malakh)=C,Db,D,Eb,F,G,A,Bb
Jewish (Ahaba Rabba)=C,Db,E,F,G,Ab,Bb
Jewish (Magen Abot)=C,Db,D#,E,F#,G#,A#,B
Kumoi=C,D,Eb,G,A
Leading Whole Tone=C,D,E,F#,G#,A#,B
Lydian Augmented=C,D,E,F#,G#,A,B
Lydian Minor=C,D,E,F#,G,Ab,Bb
Lydian Diminished=C,D,Eb,F#,G,A,B
Major Locrian=C,D,E,F,Gb,Ab,Bb
Mela Bhavapriya (44)=C,Db,D,F,G,G#,A
Mela Chakravakam (16)=C,Db,E,F,G,A,Bb
Mela Chalanata (36)=C,D#,E,F,G,A#,B
Mela Charukesi (26)=C,D,E,F,G,Ab,Bb
Mela Chitrambari (66)=C,D,E,F#,G,A#,B
Mela Dharmavati (59)=C,D,Eb,F#,G,A,B
Mela Dhatuvardhani (69)=C,D#,E,F#,G,Ab,B
Mela Dhavalambari (49)=C,Db,E,F#,G,G#,A
Mela Dhenuka (9)=C,Db,Eb,F,G,Ab,B
Mela Dhirasankarabharana (29)=C,D,E,F,G,A,B
Mela Divyamani (48)=C,Db,Eb,F#,G,A#,B
Mela Gamanasrama (53)=C,Db,E,F#,G,A,B
Mela Ganamurti (3)=C,Db,D,F,G,Ab,B
Mela Gangeyabhusani (33)=C,D#,E,F,G,Ab,B
Mela Gaurimanohari (23)=C,D,Eb,F,G,A,B
Mela Gavambodhi (43)=C,Db,Eb,F#,G,G#,A
Mela Gayakapriya (13)=C,Db,E,F,G,G#,A
Mela Hanumattodi (8)=C,Db,Eb,F,G,Ab,Bb
Mela Harikambhoji (28)=C,D,E,F,G,A,Bb
Mela Hatakambari (18)=C,Db,E,F,G,A#,B
Mela Hemavati (58)=C,D,Eb,F#,G,A,Bb
Mela Jalarnavam (38)=C,Db,D,F#,G,Ab,Bb
Mela Jhalavarali (39)=C,Db,D,F#,G,A,Bb
Mela Jhankaradhvani (19)=C,D,Eb,F,G,A#,G,A
Mela Jyotisvarupini (68)=C,D#,E,F#,G,Ab,Bb
Mela Kamavardhani (51)=C,Db,E,F#,G,Ab,B
Mela Kanakangi (1)=C,Db,D,F,G,G#,A
Mela Kantamani (61)=C,D,E,F#,G,G#,A
Mela Kharaharapriya (22)=C,D,Eb,F,G,A,Bb
Mela Kiravani (21)=C,D,Eb,F,G,Ab,B
Mela Kokilapriya (11)=C,Db,Eb,F,G,A,B
Mela Kosalam (71)=C,D#,E,F#,G,A,B
Mela Latangi (63)=C,D,E,F#,G,Ab,B
Mela Manavati (5)=C,Db,D,F,G,A,B
Mela Mararanjani (25)=C,D,E,F,G,G#,A
Mela Mayamalavagaula (15)=C,Db,E,F,G,G#,A
Mela Mechakalyani (65)=C,D,E,F#,G,A,B
Mela Naganandini (30)=C,D,E,F,G,A#,B
Mela Namanarayani (50)=C,Db,E,F#,G,Ab,Bb
Mela Nasikabhusani (70)=C,D#,E,F#,G,A,Bb
Mela Natabhairavi (20)=C,D,Eb,F,G,Ab,Bb
Mela Natakapriya (10)=C,Db,Eb,F,G,A,Bb
Mela Navanitam (40)=C,Db,D,F#,G,A,Bb
Mela Nitimati (60)=C,D,Eb,F#,G,A#,B
Mela Pavani (41)=C,Db,D,F#,G,A,B
Mela Ragavardhani (32)=C,D#,E,F,G,Ab,Bb
Mela Raghupriya (42)=C,Db,D,F#,G,A#,B
Mela Ramapriya (52)=C,Db,E,F#,G,A,Bb
Mela Rasikapriya (72)=C,D#,E,F#,G,A#,B
Mela Ratnangi (2)=C,Db,D,F,G,Ab,Bb
Mela Risabhapriya (62)=C,D,E,F#,G,Ab,Bb
Mela Rupavati (12)=C,Db,Eb,F,G,A#,B
Mela Sadvidhamargini (46)=C,Db,Eb,F#,G,A,Bb
Mela Salagam (37)=C,Db,D,F#,G,G#,A
Mela Sanmukhapriya (56)=C,D,Eb,F#,G,Ab,Bb
Mela Sarasangi (27)=C,D,E,F,G,Ab,B
Mela Senavati (7)=C,Db,Eb,F,G,G#,A
Mela Simhendramadhyama (57)=C,D,Eb,F#,G,Ab,B
Mela Subhapantuvarali (45)=C,Db,Eb,F#,G,Ab,B
Mela Sucharitra (67)=C,D#,E,F#,G,G#,A
Mela Sulini (35)=C,D#,E,F,G,A,B
Mela Suryakantam (17)=C,Db,E,F,G,A,B
Mela Suvarnangi (47)=C,Db,D,F#,G,A,B
Mela Syamalangi (55)=C,D,Eb,F#,G,G#,A
Mela Tanarupi (6)=C,Db,D,F,G,A#,B
Mela Vaschaspati (64)=C,D,E,F#,G,A,Bb
Mela Vagadhisvari (34)=C,D#,E,F,G,A,Bb
Mela Vakulabharanam (14)=C,D#,E,F,G,Ab,Bb
Mela Vanaspati (4)=C,Db,D,F,G,A,Bb
Mela Varunapriya (24)=C,D,Eb,F,G,A#,B
Mela Visvambari (54)=C,D#,E,F#,G,A#,B
Mela Yagapriya (31)=C,D#,E,F,G,G#,A
Mohammedan=C,D,Eb,F,G,Ab,B
Neopolitan=C,Db,Eb,F,G,Ab,B
Neoploitan Major=C,Db,Eb,F,G,A,B
Neopolitan Minor=C,Db,Eb,F,G,Ab,Bb
Nine Tone Scale=C,D,D#,E,F#,G,G#,A,B
Oriental (a)=C,Db,E,F,Gb,Ab,Bb
Oriental (b)=C,Db,E,F,Gb,A,Bb
Overtone=C,D,E,F#,G,A,Bb
Overtone Dominant=C,D,E,F#,G,A,Bb
Pelog=C,Db,Eb,G,Ab
Persian=C,Db,E,F,Gb,Ab,B
Prometheus=C,D,E,Gb,A,Bb
Prometheus Neopolitan=C,Db,E,Gb,A,Bb
Pure Minor=C,D,Eb,F,G,Ab,Bb
Purvi Theta=C,Db,E,F#,G,Ab,B
Roumanian Minor=C,D,Eb,F#,G,A,Bb
Six Tone Symmetrical=C,Db,E,F,G#,A
Spanish Gypsy=C,Db,E,F,G,Ab,Bb
Super Locrian=C,Db,D#,E,F#,G#,Bb
Theta, Asavari=C,D,Eb,F,G,Ab,Bb
Theta, Bilaval=C,D,E,F,G,A,B
Theta, Bhairav=C,Db,E,F,G,Ab,B
Theta, Bhairavi=C,Db,Eb,F,G,Ab,Bb
Theta, Kafi=C,D,Eb,F,G,A,Bb
Theta, Kalyan=C,D,E,F#,G,A,B
Theta, Khamaj=C,D,E,F,G,A,Bb
Theta, Marva=C,Db,E,F#,G,A,B
Todi Theta=C,Db,Eb,F#,G,Ab,B