Random Scale Generator: 12 Scale Types in All 12 Keys: how it works
This random scale generator holds 144 scales: major, three kinds of minor, five modes, both pentatonics and the blues scale, each on all 12 tonics. Every card spells the notes and gives the key signature. Press Hide all notes to test yourself: play first, then check.
Why a card shows B♯ or F♯♯
Each scale is spelled the way a theory text spells it: one letter name per step, none skipped and none used twice. That is why C♯ harmonic minor ends on B♯, not C, and why G♯ harmonic minor has F♯♯, F double sharp, the same piano key as G. A mode card names its parent: E♭ Dorian is D♭ major played from its 2nd note.
Draw one of the 24 keys
For a random key generator music students can drill from, tap The 24 keys: it draws only from the 12 major scales and 12 natural minors, each with its notes and signature. Play the scale, the arpeggio, then eight bars of a tune you know moved into that key. Draws do not repeat, so every key comes round before any returns, and F♯ gets the same time as C.
Tips
Say the key signature before playing. Sharps arrive in the order F C G D A E B, and flats run that line backwards.
Pick C in the Tonic menu and reroll: C major, C Dorian and C blues share a first note, so you hear what each type changes.
On guitar, one pentatonic or blues shape moves to every key. Let the draw choose the tonic, then find it on the sixth string.
Questions and answers
Why is there F♯ major but no G♭ major?
They share piano keys. Each of the 12 tonics appears once per scale type, under the name with the smaller key signature: D♭ major with 5 flats, not C♯ major with 7 sharps. F♯ and G♭ major both need six, so the list keeps F♯, and the same tie in minor goes to E♭. A card that mentions G♭ major or D♯ minor means those same keys.
Where are the Ionian and Aeolian modes?
They are here as the major scale (Ionian) and the natural minor (Aeolian). Set all seven modes in a line, Lydian, Ionian, Mixolydian, Dorian, Aeolian, Phrygian, Locrian, and each lowers one more note than the mode before it.
How are Starter, Intermediate and Advanced decided?
They are our own grading, not an exam board's. Starter holds 20 scales: major, natural minor and pentatonic scales with up to two sharps or flats. Advanced holds 40: less familiar types such as melodic minor and Locrian from three sharps or flats up, and harmonic minor, blues, Dorian and Mixolydian from five.
A majorA B C♯ D E F♯ G♯. Key signature: 3 sharps. Relative minor: F♯ minor.
A natural minorA B C D E F G. Key signature: no sharps or flats, shared with C major.
A♭ majorA♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭ F G. Key signature: 4 flats. Relative minor: F minor.
B majorB C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A♯. Key signature: 5 sharps. Relative minor: G♯ minor.
B natural minorB C♯ D E F♯ G A. Key signature: 2 sharps, shared with D major.
B♭ majorB♭ C D E♭ F G A. Key signature: 2 flats. Relative minor: G minor.
B♭ natural minorB♭ C D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭. Key signature: 5 flats, shared with D♭ major.
C majorC D E F G A B. Key signature: no sharps or flats. Relative minor: A minor.
C natural minorC D E♭ F G A♭ B♭. Key signature: 3 flats, shared with E♭ major.
C♯ natural minorC♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A B. Key signature: 4 sharps, shared with E major.
D majorD E F♯ G A B C♯. Key signature: 2 sharps. Relative minor: B minor.
D natural minorD E F G A B♭ C. Key signature: 1 flat, shared with F major.
D♭ majorD♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭ C. Key signature: 5 flats. Relative minor: B♭ minor.
E majorE F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D♯. Key signature: 4 sharps. Relative minor: C♯ minor.
E natural minorE F♯ G A B C D. Key signature: 1 sharp, shared with G major.
E♭ majorE♭ F G A♭ B♭ C D. Key signature: 3 flats. Relative minor: C minor.
E♭ natural minorE♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭ C♭ D♭. Key signature: 6 flats, shared with G♭ major, listed here as F♯ major.
F majorF G A B♭ C D E. Key signature: 1 flat. Relative minor: D minor.
F natural minorF G A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭. Key signature: 4 flats, shared with A♭ major.
F♯ majorF♯ G♯ A♯ B C♯ D♯ E♯. Key signature: 6 sharps. Relative minor: D♯ minor, listed here as E♭ minor.
F♯ natural minorF♯ G♯ A B C♯ D E. Key signature: 3 sharps, shared with A major.
G majorG A B C D E F♯. Key signature: 1 sharp. Relative minor: E minor.
G natural minorG A B♭ C D E♭ F. Key signature: 2 flats, shared with B♭ major.
G♯ natural minorG♯ A♯ B C♯ D♯ E F♯. Key signature: 5 sharps, shared with B major.
Minor 24
A harmonic minorA B C D E F G♯. Natural minor with the 7th raised to G♯. Signature: no sharps or flats.
A melodic minorA B C D E F♯ G♯. Rising form; it falls as A natural minor. Signature: no sharps or flats.
B harmonic minorB C♯ D E F♯ G A♯. Natural minor with the 7th raised to A♯. Signature: 2 sharps.
B melodic minorB C♯ D E F♯ G♯ A♯. Rising form; it falls as B natural minor. Signature: 2 sharps.
B♭ harmonic minorB♭ C D♭ E♭ F G♭ A. Natural minor with the 7th raised to A. Signature: 5 flats.
B♭ melodic minorB♭ C D♭ E♭ F G A. Rising form; it falls as B♭ natural minor. Signature: 5 flats.
C harmonic minorC D E♭ F G A♭ B. Natural minor with the 7th raised to B. Signature: 3 flats.
C melodic minorC D E♭ F G A B. Rising form; it falls as C natural minor. Signature: 3 flats.
C♯ harmonic minorC♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A B♯. Natural minor with the 7th raised to B♯. Signature: 4 sharps.
C♯ melodic minorC♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A♯ B♯. Rising form; it falls as C♯ natural minor. Signature: 4 sharps.
D harmonic minorD E F G A B♭ C♯. Natural minor with the 7th raised to C♯. Signature: 1 flat.
D melodic minorD E F G A B C♯. Rising form; it falls as D natural minor. Signature: 1 flat.
E harmonic minorE F♯ G A B C D♯. Natural minor with the 7th raised to D♯. Signature: 1 sharp.
E melodic minorE F♯ G A B C♯ D♯. Rising form; it falls as E natural minor. Signature: 1 sharp.
E♭ harmonic minorE♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭ C♭ D. Natural minor with the 7th raised to D. Signature: 6 flats.
E♭ melodic minorE♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭ C D. Rising form; it falls as E♭ natural minor. Signature: 6 flats.
F harmonic minorF G A♭ B♭ C D♭ E. Natural minor with the 7th raised to E. Signature: 4 flats.
F melodic minorF G A♭ B♭ C D E. Rising form; it falls as F natural minor. Signature: 4 flats.
F♯ harmonic minorF♯ G♯ A B C♯ D E♯. Natural minor with the 7th raised to E♯. Signature: 3 sharps.
F♯ melodic minorF♯ G♯ A B C♯ D♯ E♯. Rising form; it falls as F♯ natural minor. Signature: 3 sharps.
G harmonic minorG A B♭ C D E♭ F♯. Natural minor with the 7th raised to F♯. Signature: 2 flats.
G melodic minorG A B♭ C D E F♯. Rising form; it falls as G natural minor. Signature: 2 flats.
G♯ harmonic minorG♯ A♯ B C♯ D♯ E F♯♯. Natural minor with the 7th raised to F♯♯. Signature: 5 sharps.
G♯ melodic minorG♯ A♯ B C♯ D♯ E♯ F♯♯. Rising form; it falls as G♯ natural minor. Signature: 5 sharps.
Modes 60
A DorianA B C D E F♯ G. G major played from its 2nd note. Signature: 1 sharp.
A LocrianA B♭ C D E♭ F G. B♭ major played from its 7th note. Signature: 2 flats.
A LydianA B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯. E major played from its 4th note. Signature: 4 sharps.
A MixolydianA B C♯ D E F♯ G. D major played from its 5th note. Signature: 2 sharps.
A PhrygianA B♭ C D E F G. F major played from its 3rd note. Signature: 1 flat.
A♭ DorianA♭ B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭ F G♭. G♭ major played from its 2nd note. Signature: 6 flats.
A♭ LydianA♭ B♭ C D E♭ F G. E♭ major played from its 4th note. Signature: 3 flats.
A♭ MixolydianA♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭ F G♭. D♭ major played from its 5th note. Signature: 5 flats.
A♯ LocrianA♯ B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯. B major played from its 7th note. Signature: 5 sharps.
B DorianB C♯ D E F♯ G♯ A. A major played from its 2nd note. Signature: 3 sharps.
B LocrianB C D E F G A. C major played from its 7th note. Signature: no sharps or flats.
B LydianB C♯ D♯ E♯ F♯ G♯ A♯. F♯ major played from its 4th note. Signature: 6 sharps.
B MixolydianB C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A. E major played from its 5th note. Signature: 4 sharps.
B PhrygianB C D E F♯ G A. G major played from its 3rd note. Signature: 1 sharp.
B♭ DorianB♭ C D♭ E♭ F G A♭. A♭ major played from its 2nd note. Signature: 4 flats.
B♭ LydianB♭ C D E F G A. F major played from its 4th note. Signature: 1 flat.
B♭ MixolydianB♭ C D E♭ F G A♭. E♭ major played from its 5th note. Signature: 3 flats.
B♭ PhrygianB♭ C♭ D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭. G♭ major played from its 3rd note. Signature: 6 flats.
C DorianC D E♭ F G A B♭. B♭ major played from its 2nd note. Signature: 2 flats.
C LocrianC D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭. D♭ major played from its 7th note. Signature: 5 flats.
C LydianC D E F♯ G A B. G major played from its 4th note. Signature: 1 sharp.
C MixolydianC D E F G A B♭. F major played from its 5th note. Signature: 1 flat.
C PhrygianC D♭ E♭ F G A♭ B♭. A♭ major played from its 3rd note. Signature: 4 flats.
C♯ DorianC♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A♯ B. B major played from its 2nd note. Signature: 5 sharps.
C♯ LocrianC♯ D E F♯ G A B. D major played from its 7th note. Signature: 2 sharps.
C♯ MixolydianC♯ D♯ E♯ F♯ G♯ A♯ B. F♯ major played from its 5th note. Signature: 6 sharps.
C♯ PhrygianC♯ D E F♯ G♯ A B. A major played from its 3rd note. Signature: 3 sharps.
D DorianD E F G A B C. C major played from its 2nd note. Signature: no sharps or flats.
D LocrianD E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C. E♭ major played from its 7th note. Signature: 3 flats.
D LydianD E F♯ G♯ A B C♯. A major played from its 4th note. Signature: 3 sharps.
D MixolydianD E F♯ G A B C. G major played from its 5th note. Signature: 1 sharp.
D PhrygianD E♭ F G A B♭ C. B♭ major played from its 3rd note. Signature: 2 flats.
D♭ LydianD♭ E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C. A♭ major played from its 4th note. Signature: 4 flats.
D♯ LocrianD♯ E F♯ G♯ A B C♯. E major played from its 7th note. Signature: 4 sharps.
D♯ PhrygianD♯ E F♯ G♯ A♯ B C♯. B major played from its 3rd note. Signature: 5 sharps.
E DorianE F♯ G A B C♯ D. D major played from its 2nd note. Signature: 2 sharps.
E LocrianE F G A B♭ C D. F major played from its 7th note. Signature: 1 flat.
E LydianE F♯ G♯ A♯ B C♯ D♯. B major played from its 4th note. Signature: 5 sharps.
E MixolydianE F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D. A major played from its 5th note. Signature: 3 sharps.
E PhrygianE F G A B C D. C major played from its 3rd note. Signature: no sharps or flats.
E♭ DorianE♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭ C D♭. D♭ major played from its 2nd note. Signature: 5 flats.
E♭ LydianE♭ F G A B♭ C D. B♭ major played from its 4th note. Signature: 2 flats.
E♭ MixolydianE♭ F G A♭ B♭ C D♭. A♭ major played from its 5th note. Signature: 4 flats.
F DorianF G A♭ B♭ C D E♭. E♭ major played from its 2nd note. Signature: 3 flats.
F LocrianF G♭ A♭ B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭. G♭ major played from its 7th note. Signature: 6 flats.
F LydianF G A B C D E. C major played from its 4th note. Signature: no sharps or flats.
F MixolydianF G A B♭ C D E♭. B♭ major played from its 5th note. Signature: 2 flats.
F PhrygianF G♭ A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭. D♭ major played from its 3rd note. Signature: 5 flats.
F♯ DorianF♯ G♯ A B C♯ D♯ E. E major played from its 2nd note. Signature: 4 sharps.
F♯ LocrianF♯ G A B C D E. G major played from its 7th note. Signature: 1 sharp.
F♯ MixolydianF♯ G♯ A♯ B C♯ D♯ E. B major played from its 5th note. Signature: 5 sharps.
F♯ PhrygianF♯ G A B C♯ D E. D major played from its 3rd note. Signature: 2 sharps.
G DorianG A B♭ C D E F. F major played from its 2nd note. Signature: 1 flat.
G LocrianG A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭ F. A♭ major played from its 7th note. Signature: 4 flats.
G LydianG A B C♯ D E F♯. D major played from its 4th note. Signature: 2 sharps.
G MixolydianG A B C D E F. C major played from its 5th note. Signature: no sharps or flats.
G PhrygianG A♭ B♭ C D E♭ F. E♭ major played from its 3rd note. Signature: 3 flats.
G♭ LydianG♭ A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭ F. D♭ major played from its 4th note. Signature: 5 flats.
G♯ LocrianG♯ A B C♯ D E F♯. A major played from its 7th note. Signature: 3 sharps.
G♯ PhrygianG♯ A B C♯ D♯ E F♯. E major played from its 3rd note. Signature: 4 sharps.
Pentatonic and blues 36
A bluesA C D E♭ E G. Minor pentatonic plus the blue note E♭, the flat 5th.
A major pentatonicA B C♯ E F♯. A major without its 4th and 7th notes. Signature: 3 sharps.
A minor pentatonicA C D E G. A natural minor without its 2nd and 6th. Signature: no sharps or flats.
A♭ major pentatonicA♭ B♭ C E♭ F. A♭ major without its 4th and 7th notes. Signature: 4 flats.
B bluesB D E F F♯ A. Minor pentatonic plus the blue note F, the flat 5th.
B major pentatonicB C♯ D♯ F♯ G♯. B major without its 4th and 7th notes. Signature: 5 sharps.
B minor pentatonicB D E F♯ A. B natural minor without its 2nd and 6th. Signature: 2 sharps.
B♭ bluesB♭ D♭ E♭ E F A♭. Minor pentatonic plus the blue note E, the sharp 4th.
B♭ major pentatonicB♭ C D F G. B♭ major without its 4th and 7th notes. Signature: 2 flats.
B♭ minor pentatonicB♭ D♭ E♭ F A♭. B♭ natural minor without its 2nd and 6th. Signature: 5 flats.
C bluesC E♭ F G♭ G B♭. Minor pentatonic plus the blue note G♭, the flat 5th.
C major pentatonicC D E G A. C major without its 4th and 7th notes. Signature: no sharps or flats.
C minor pentatonicC E♭ F G B♭. C natural minor without its 2nd and 6th. Signature: 3 flats.
C♯ bluesC♯ E F♯ G G♯ B. Minor pentatonic plus the blue note G, the flat 5th.
C♯ minor pentatonicC♯ E F♯ G♯ B. C♯ natural minor without its 2nd and 6th. Signature: 4 sharps.
D bluesD F G A♭ A C. Minor pentatonic plus the blue note A♭, the flat 5th.
D major pentatonicD E F♯ A B. D major without its 4th and 7th notes. Signature: 2 sharps.
D minor pentatonicD F G A C. D natural minor without its 2nd and 6th. Signature: 1 flat.
D♭ major pentatonicD♭ E♭ F A♭ B♭. D♭ major without its 4th and 7th notes. Signature: 5 flats.
E bluesE G A B♭ B D. Minor pentatonic plus the blue note B♭, the flat 5th.
E major pentatonicE F♯ G♯ B C♯. E major without its 4th and 7th notes. Signature: 4 sharps.
E minor pentatonicE G A B D. E natural minor without its 2nd and 6th. Signature: 1 sharp.
E♭ bluesE♭ G♭ A♭ A B♭ D♭. Minor pentatonic plus the blue note A, the sharp 4th.
E♭ major pentatonicE♭ F G B♭ C. E♭ major without its 4th and 7th notes. Signature: 3 flats.
E♭ minor pentatonicE♭ G♭ A♭ B♭ D♭. E♭ natural minor without its 2nd and 6th. Signature: 6 flats.
F bluesF A♭ B♭ B C E♭. Minor pentatonic plus the blue note B, the sharp 4th.
F major pentatonicF G A C D. F major without its 4th and 7th notes. Signature: 1 flat.
F minor pentatonicF A♭ B♭ C E♭. F natural minor without its 2nd and 6th. Signature: 4 flats.
F♯ bluesF♯ A B C C♯ E. Minor pentatonic plus the blue note C, the flat 5th.
F♯ major pentatonicF♯ G♯ A♯ C♯ D♯. F♯ major without its 4th and 7th notes. Signature: 6 sharps.
F♯ minor pentatonicF♯ A B C♯ E. F♯ natural minor without its 2nd and 6th. Signature: 3 sharps.
G bluesG B♭ C D♭ D F. Minor pentatonic plus the blue note D♭, the flat 5th.
G major pentatonicG A B D E. G major without its 4th and 7th notes. Signature: 1 sharp.
G minor pentatonicG B♭ C D F. G natural minor without its 2nd and 6th. Signature: 2 flats.
G♯ bluesG♯ B C♯ D D♯ F♯. Minor pentatonic plus the blue note D, the flat 5th.
G♯ minor pentatonicG♯ B C♯ D♯ F♯. G♯ natural minor without its 2nd and 6th. Signature: 5 sharps.
How this list was compiled: Notes are computed, not typed: each scale is spelled by scale degree from its interval formula (one letter name per degree), so sharps, flats and double sharps come out as a theory text writes them. Formulas and spot checks, all checked 2026-09-18: mode formulas and the C examples against https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mode_(music); natural, harmonic and melodic minor (raised 7th; raised 6th and 7th rising, natural minor falling) against https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minor_scale; G sharp harmonic and melodic minor with F double sharp against https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G-sharp_minor; major pentatonic (major scale without 4 and 7) and minor pentatonic (natural minor without 2 and 6) against https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentatonic_scale; the six-note blues scale (1, flat 3, 4, flat 5, 5, flat 7, the added note spelled as flat 5 or sharp 4) against https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blues_scale; key signatures, relative minors and the order of sharps and flats against https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Key_signature. Editorial rules: each of the 12 tonics uses the spelling whose key signature is smaller (D flat major, not C sharp major), and where both need six, the more common name (F sharp major, E flat minor). The blue note is written as the flat 5th unless that would be C flat, F flat or a double flat, where it is written as the sharp 4th. F♯♯ means F double sharp. Starter, Intermediate and Advanced are our own grading from the size of the key signature and how far the scale type sits from plain major and minor; they are not an exam board's grades. Ionian and Aeolian are left out because they are the major and natural minor scales under another name. Re-checked 2026-09-19 after review: the F♯ major and E♭ natural minor cards now say under which name their relative key is listed here, and a group of the 24 keys (12 major scales and 12 natural minors) was added; D♯ minor and E♭ minor, and G♭ major and F♯ major, as enharmonic keys with six sharps or six flats, against https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-sharp_major and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-sharp_minor. Licence: own work