Scales and modes on the grid
Pick a tonic and a scale: see which rows to use and hear the color of each mode.
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A minor, 7 notes
TonicCharacteristic noteOther scale notesScale rows
A1whole stepB2half stepC♭3whole stepD4whole stepE5half stepF♭6whole stepG♭7whole stepA8
Note to note: whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step.
Characteristic note: the minor sixth, F. A half step above the fifth, it sets natural minor apart from Dorian and makes it more wistful.
On the grid, the shaded rows are the notes of the scale across an octave and a half: any note you place on those rows stays in the scale. The pattern drawn goes up one octave, then comes back down.
Used in: The Minor Scale, The Major Scale, What Is a Key? The Note That Feels Like Home, Harmonic and Melodic Minor Scales, The Modes: Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Pentatonic and Blues Scales