Cadenza Study Sheets

Printable reference for modes, chord-scale relationships, and jazz essentials.

All Modes Quick Reference

Mode	Family	Formula	Notes in C	Chord	Char. Tone	Sound
Ionian	Major Scale	1 2 3 4 5 6 7	C D E F G A B	Cmaj7	7	The sound of 'home.
Dorian	Major Scale	1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7	C D E♭ F G A B♭	Cm7	6	Minor but not sad.
Phrygian	Major Scale	1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7	C D♭ E♭ F G A♭ B♭	Cm7	♭2	Dark, exotic, and Spanish-flavored.
Lydian	Major Scale	1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7	C D E F♯ G A B	Cmaj7♯11	♯4	Dreamy, floating, and ethereal.
Mixolydian	Major Scale	1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7	C D E F G A B♭	C7	♭7	Bluesy, confident, and strong.
Aeolian	Major Scale	1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7	C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭	Cm7	♭6	Sad, dark, and heavy.
Locrian	Major Scale	1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7	C D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭	Cm7♭5	♭2, ♭5	Unstable, tense, and restless.
Melodic Minor	Melodic Minor	1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 7	C D E♭ F G A B	Cm(maj7)	♭3, 6, 7	A major scale with a minor 3rd.
Dorian ♭2	Melodic Minor	1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7	C D♭ E♭ F G A B♭	Cm7	♭2, 6	Phrygian's exotic darkness meets Dorian's warm 6th.
Lydian Augmented	Melodic Minor	1 2 3 ♯4 ♯5 6 7	C D E F♯ G♯ A B	Cmaj7♯5	♯4, ♯5	Lydian pushed even further.
Lydian Dominant	Melodic Minor	1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 ♭7	C D E F♯ G A B♭	C7♯11	♯4, ♭7	The sophisticated dominant sound.
Mixolydian ♭6	Melodic Minor	1 2 3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7	C D E F G A♭ B♭	C7	♭6	Mixolydian with a dark twist.
Locrian Natural 2	Melodic Minor	1 2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7	C D E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭	Cm7♭5	2, ♭5	Locrian but smoother.
Altered	Melodic Minor	1 ♭2 ♯2 3 ♭5 ♯5 ♭7	C D♭ E♭ E G♭ A♭ B♭	C7alt	♭2, ♯2, ♭5, ♯5	Maximum tension over a dominant chord.
Harmonic Minor	Harmonic Minor	1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7	C D E♭ F G A♭ B	Cm(maj7)	♭6, 7	Classical minor with that distinctive exotic gap.
Locrian Natural 6	Harmonic Minor	1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 6 ♭7	C D♭ E♭ F G♭ A B♭	Cm7♭5	♭2, ♭5, 6	A Locrian variant with an unexpected natural 6th that creates an augmented 2nd gap.
Ionian ♯5	Harmonic Minor	1 2 3 4 ♯5 6 7	C D E F G♯ A B	Cmaj7♯5	♯5	The major scale with one note pushed sharp.
Dorian ♯4	Harmonic Minor	1 2 ♭3 ♯4 5 6 ♭7	C D E♭ F♯ G A B♭	Cm7	♯4, 6	Dorian with an exotic twist.
Phrygian Dominant	Harmonic Minor	1 ♭2 3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7	C D♭ E F G A♭ B♭	C7	♭2, 3	The 'Spanish dominant' sound.
Lydian ♯2	Harmonic Minor	1 ♯2 3 ♯4 5 6 7	C D♯ E F♯ G A B	Cmaj7	♯2, ♯4	Lydian stretched even further with a ♯2.
Super Locrian ♭♭7	Harmonic Minor	1 ♭2 ♭3 ♭4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭♭7	C D♭ E♭ F♭ G♭ A♭ B♭♭	Cdim7	♭4, ♭♭7	The darkest mode of harmonic minor.
Harmonic Major	Harmonic Major	1 2 3 4 5 ♭6 7	C D E F G A♭ B	Cmaj7	♭6	Major but with a dark, classical shadow.
Dorian ♭5	Harmonic Major	1 2 ♭3 4 ♭5 6 ♭7	C D E♭ F G♭ A B♭	Cm7♭5	♭5, 6	Dorian's warm minor quality darkened by a diminished 5th.
Phrygian ♭4	Harmonic Major	1 ♭2 ♭3 ♭4 5 ♭6 ♭7	C D♭ E♭ F♭ G A♭ B♭	Cm7	♭4	Phrygian pushed even darker with a ♭4.
Lydian ♭3	Harmonic Major	1 2 ♭3 ♯4 5 6 7	C D E♭ F♯ G A B	Cm(maj7)	♭3, ♯4	A fascinating hybrid: minor tonality with Lydian brightness.
Mixolydian ♭2	Harmonic Major	1 ♭2 3 4 5 6 ♭7	C D♭ E F G A B♭	C7	♭2	A dominant scale with a Phrygian-flavored ♭2 but a natural 6th, giving it a dramatically different character from Phrygian Dominant.
Lydian Augmented ♯2	Harmonic Major	1 ♯2 3 ♯4 ♯5 6 7	C D♯ E F♯ G♯ A B	Cmaj7♯5	♯2, ♯5	An extreme, stretched major sound with three raised degrees.
Locrian ♭♭7	Harmonic Major	1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭♭7	C D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭♭	Cdim7	♭♭7	Deeply diminished and nearly atonal.
Bebop Major	Bebop Scales	1 2 3 4 5 ♯5 6 7	C D E F G G♯ A B	Cmaj7	♯5	The major scale with a chromatic passing tone between the 5th and 6th degrees, creating seamless eighth-note lines that keep chord tones on the beat.
Bebop Dominant	Bebop Scales	1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7 7	C D E F G A B♭ B	C7	7	The quintessential bebop scale.
Bebop Dorian	Bebop Scales	1 2 ♭3 3 4 5 6 ♭7	C D E♭ E F G A B♭	Cm7	3	Dorian with a major 3rd passing tone that adds a momentary brightness to the minor quality — like a shaft of sunlight through storm clouds.
Major Pentatonic	Pentatonic & Blues	1 2 3 5 6	C D E G A	C		Pure, sunny, and universally appealing.
Minor Pentatonic	Pentatonic & Blues	1 ♭3 4 5 ♭7	C E♭ F G B♭	Cm		Raw, powerful, and deeply expressive.
Blues Scale	Pentatonic & Blues	1 ♭3 4 ♭5 5 ♭7	C E♭ F G♭ G B♭	C7	♭5	Gritty, soulful, and dripping with attitude.
Whole Tone	Symmetric Scales	1 2 3 ♯4 ♯5 ♭7	C D E F♯ G♯ B♭	C7♯5	♯4, ♯5	Dreamlike, suspended, and tonally weightless.
Half-Whole Diminished	Symmetric Scales	1 ♭2 ♭3 3 ♯4 5 6 ♭7	C D♭ E♭ E F♯ G A B♭	C7♭9	♭2, ♭3, 3, ♯4	Tense, angular, and bristling with chromatic energy.
Whole-Half Diminished	Symmetric Scales	1 2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 6 7	C D E♭ F G♭ A♭ A B	Cdim7	♭5, 6	Dark, mysterious, and symmetrically beautiful.
Augmented Scale	Symmetric Scales	1 ♭3 3 5 ♯5 7	C E♭ E G G♯ B	Cmaj7♯5	♭3, ♯5	Glassy, otherworldly, and kaleidoscopic.
Hungarian Minor	Exotic Scales	1 2 ♭3 ♯4 5 ♭6 7	C D E♭ F♯ G A♭ B	Cm(maj7)	♯4, ♭6	Intensely dramatic, passionate, and unmistakably Eastern European.
Double Harmonic Major	Exotic Scales	1 ♭2 3 4 5 ♭6 7	C D♭ E F G A♭ B	Cmaj7	♭2, ♭6	Majestic, ancient, and deeply evocative of Middle Eastern and Byzantine musical traditions.
Enigmatic Scale	Exotic Scales	1 ♭2 3 ♯4 ♯5 ♭7 7	C D♭ E F♯ G♯ B♭ B	Cmaj7	♭2, ♯4, ♯5	Strange, enigmatic, and deliberately unsettling.
Hirajoshi	Japanese Scales	1 2 ♭3 5 ♭6	C D E♭ G A♭	Cm	♭3, ♭6	Hauntingly beautiful, spare, and deeply evocative of traditional Japanese music.
In Sen	Japanese Scales	1 ♭2 4 5 ♭7	C D♭ F G B♭	Cm7	♭2	Dark, austere, and deeply meditative.

Chord-Scale Cheat Sheet

Chord Type	Symbol	Recommended Scales (in order of preference)
Major 7	maj7	Ionian, Lydian
Minor 7	m7	Dorian, Aeolian, Phrygian, Dorian ♭2
Dominant 7	7	Mixolydian, Lydian Dominant, Phrygian Dominant, Altered, Mixolydian ♭6
Minor 7♭5	m7♭5	Locrian Natural 2, Locrian
Diminished 7	°7	Super Locrian ♭♭7
Minor(maj7)	m(maj7)	Melodic Minor, Harmonic Minor
Augmented maj7	maj7♯5	Lydian Augmented, Ionian ♯5
Dominant 7alt	7alt	Altered
Dominant 7♯11	7♯11	Lydian Dominant
Sus4	7sus4	Mixolydian, Dorian, Phrygian
Major	maj	Ionian, Lydian, Major Pentatonic
Minor	min	Dorian, Aeolian, Minor Pentatonic
Augmented	aug	Whole Tone, Lydian Augmented
Diminished	dim	Whole-Half Diminished, Locrian
Sus4 (triad)	sus4	Mixolydian, Dorian
Sus2	sus2	Ionian, Mixolydian
Major 6	6	Ionian, Lydian, Major Pentatonic
Minor 6	m6	Dorian, Melodic Minor
Dominant 9	9	Mixolydian, Bebop Dominant, Blues Scale
Major 9	maj9	Ionian, Lydian
Minor 9	m9	Dorian, Aeolian
Minor 11	m11	Dorian, Aeolian
Dominant 13	13	Mixolydian, Lydian Dominant
Add9	add9	Ionian, Lydian
Minor Add9	m(add9)	Dorian, Aeolian
Power Chord	5	Ionian, Minor Pentatonic, Blues Scale
Dominant 7♭13	7♭13	Mixolydian ♭6, Phrygian Dominant
Dominant 7♯9	7♯9	Altered, Blues Scale, Half-Whole Diminished

The 10 Jazz Essential Scales

#	Scale	Family	Formula	Primary Use
1	Ionian	Major Scale	1 2 3 4 5 6 7	Over any major 7th chord functioning as the I chord
2	Dorian	Major Scale	1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7	The default scale for minor 7th chords in jazz
3	Mixolydian	Major Scale	1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7	Over dominant 7th chords
4	Aeolian	Major Scale	1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7	Minor key rock and pop songs
5	Melodic Minor	Melodic Minor	1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 7	Over minor-major 7th chords (mMaj7)
6	Altered	Melodic Minor	1 ♭2 ♯2 3 ♭5 ♯5 ♭7	Over dominant 7th chords resolving to their I chord (V7-I)
7	Lydian Dominant	Melodic Minor	1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 ♭7	Over dominant 7♯11 chords
8	Phrygian Dominant	Harmonic Minor	1 ♭2 3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7	V7 chord in a minor key (V7 to im)
9	Locrian Natural 2	Melodic Minor	1 2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7	The preferred scale for m7♭5 (half-diminished) chords in jazz
10	Lydian	Major Scale	1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7	Over major 7th chords. especially maj7♯11

Family Summaries

Major Scale Family

Parent formula: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

The major scale sounds bright, stable, and resolved. Its modes range from the pure consonance of Ionian to the dark tension of Locrian, with Dorian and Mixolydian sitting in a sweet middle ground beloved by jazz, blues, and funk musicians.

Deg.	Mode	Formula	Notes in C	Chord	Char. Tone	Priority
1	Ionian	1 2 3 4 5 6 7	C D E F G A B	Cmaj7	7	Essential
2	Dorian	1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7	C D E♭ F G A B♭	Cm7	6	Essential
3	Phrygian	1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7	C D♭ E♭ F G A♭ B♭	Cm7	♭2	Important
4	Lydian	1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7	C D E F♯ G A B	Cmaj7♯11	♯4	Essential
5	Mixolydian	1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7	C D E F G A B♭	C7	♭7	Essential
6	Aeolian	1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7	C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭	Cm7	♭6	Essential
7	Locrian	1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7	C D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭	Cm7♭5	♭2, ♭5	Important

Melodic Minor Family

Parent formula: 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 7

Melodic minor has a bittersweet, sophisticated quality. minor but with a bright upper structure thanks to the natural 6th and 7th.

Deg.	Mode	Formula	Notes in C	Chord	Char. Tone	Priority
1	Melodic Minor	1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 7	C D E♭ F G A B	Cm(maj7)	♭3, 6, 7	Essential
2	Dorian ♭2	1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7	C D♭ E♭ F G A B♭	Cm7	♭2, 6	Advanced
3	Lydian Augmented	1 2 3 ♯4 ♯5 6 7	C D E F♯ G♯ A B	Cmaj7♯5	♯4, ♯5	Advanced
4	Lydian Dominant	1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 ♭7	C D E F♯ G A B♭	C7♯11	♯4, ♭7	Essential
5	Mixolydian ♭6	1 2 3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7	C D E F G A♭ B♭	C7	♭6	Important
6	Locrian Natural 2	1 2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7	C D E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭	Cm7♭5	2, ♭5	Essential
7	Altered	1 ♭2 ♯2 3 ♭5 ♯5 ♭7	C D♭ E♭ E G♭ A♭ B♭	C7alt	♭2, ♯2, ♭5, ♯5	Essential

Harmonic Minor Family

Parent formula: 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7

The augmented second interval gives harmonic minor and its modes a tense, dramatic, and often 'exotic' quality that stands apart from both major and melodic minor sounds. Harmonic minor itself sounds dark and yearning with a sharp pull toward resolution.

Deg.	Mode	Formula	Notes in C	Chord	Char. Tone	Priority
1	Harmonic Minor	1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7	C D E♭ F G A♭ B	Cm(maj7)	♭6, 7	Essential
2	Locrian Natural 6	1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 6 ♭7	C D♭ E♭ F G♭ A B♭	Cm7♭5	♭2, ♭5, 6	Advanced
3	Ionian ♯5	1 2 3 4 ♯5 6 7	C D E F G♯ A B	Cmaj7♯5	♯5	Advanced
4	Dorian ♯4	1 2 ♭3 ♯4 5 6 ♭7	C D E♭ F♯ G A B♭	Cm7	♯4, 6	Advanced
5	Phrygian Dominant	1 ♭2 3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7	C D♭ E F G A♭ B♭	C7	♭2, 3	Essential
6	Lydian ♯2	1 ♯2 3 ♯4 5 6 7	C D♯ E F♯ G A B	Cmaj7	♯2, ♯4	Advanced
7	Super Locrian ♭♭7	1 ♭2 ♭3 ♭4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭♭7	C D♭ E♭ F♭ G♭ A♭ B♭♭	Cdim7	♭4, ♭♭7	Advanced

Harmonic Major Family

Parent formula: 1 2 3 4 5 ♭6 7

The harmonic major family carries a bittersweet, majestic quality. The parent scale itself sounds like a major scale that unexpectedly darkens at the 6th degree, creating a sense of nostalgia or dramatic yearning.

Deg.	Mode	Formula	Notes in C	Chord	Char. Tone	Priority
1	Harmonic Major	1 2 3 4 5 ♭6 7	C D E F G A♭ B	Cmaj7	♭6	Important
2	Dorian ♭5	1 2 ♭3 4 ♭5 6 ♭7	C D E♭ F G♭ A B♭	Cm7♭5	♭5, 6	Advanced
3	Phrygian ♭4	1 ♭2 ♭3 ♭4 5 ♭6 ♭7	C D♭ E♭ F♭ G A♭ B♭	Cm7	♭4	Advanced
4	Lydian ♭3	1 2 ♭3 ♯4 5 6 7	C D E♭ F♯ G A B	Cm(maj7)	♭3, ♯4	Advanced
5	Mixolydian ♭2	1 ♭2 3 4 5 6 ♭7	C D♭ E F G A B♭	C7	♭2	Important
6	Lydian Augmented ♯2	1 ♯2 3 ♯4 ♯5 6 7	C D♯ E F♯ G♯ A B	Cmaj7♯5	♯2, ♯5	Advanced
7	Locrian ♭♭7	1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭♭7	C D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭♭	Cdim7	♭♭7	Advanced

Bebop Scales Family

Parent formula: 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7 7

Bebop scales sound like their parent scales but with an added smoothness and forward momentum. The chromatic passing tone creates a flowing, connected quality that is the hallmark of bebop-era jazz.

Deg.	Mode	Formula	Notes in C	Chord	Char. Tone	Priority
1	Bebop Major	1 2 3 4 5 ♯5 6 7	C D E F G G♯ A B	Cmaj7	♯5	Important
1	Bebop Dominant	1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7 7	C D E F G A B♭ B	C7	7	Essential
1	Bebop Dorian	1 2 ♭3 3 4 5 6 ♭7	C D E♭ E F G A B♭	Cm7	3	Important

Pentatonic & Blues Family

Parent formula: 1 2 3 5 6

Pentatonic scales sound open, universal, and immediately musical. The major pentatonic is sunny, pastoral, and singable.

Deg.	Mode	Formula	Notes in C	Chord	Char. Tone	Priority
1	Major Pentatonic	1 2 3 5 6	C D E G A	C		Essential
1	Minor Pentatonic	1 ♭3 4 5 ♭7	C E♭ F G B♭	Cm		Essential
1	Blues Scale	1 ♭3 4 ♭5 5 ♭7	C E♭ F G♭ G B♭	C7	♭5	Essential

Symmetric Scales Family

Parent formula: 1 2 3 ♯4 ♯5 ♭7

Symmetric scales share a quality of tonal ambiguity and suspended gravity. The whole tone scale sounds dreamy, weightless, and slightly disorienting.

Deg.	Mode	Formula	Notes in C	Chord	Char. Tone	Priority
1	Whole Tone	1 2 3 ♯4 ♯5 ♭7	C D E F♯ G♯ B♭	C7♯5	♯4, ♯5	Important
1	Half-Whole Diminished	1 ♭2 ♭3 3 ♯4 5 6 ♭7	C D♭ E♭ E F♯ G A B♭	C7♭9	♭2, ♭3, 3, ♯4	Important
1	Whole-Half Diminished	1 2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 6 7	C D E♭ F G♭ A♭ A B	Cdim7	♭5, 6	Important
1	Augmented Scale	1 ♭3 3 5 ♯5 7	C E♭ E G G♯ B	Cmaj7♯5	♭3, ♯5	Advanced

Exotic Scales Family

Parent formula: 1 2 ♭3 ♯4 5 ♭6 7

Exotic scales share the common quality of sounding 'other'. immediately recognizable as outside the standard Western major/minor framework.

Deg.	Mode	Formula	Notes in C	Chord	Char. Tone	Priority
1	Hungarian Minor	1 2 ♭3 ♯4 5 ♭6 7	C D E♭ F♯ G A♭ B	Cm(maj7)	♯4, ♭6	Important
1	Double Harmonic Major	1 ♭2 3 4 5 ♭6 7	C D♭ E F G A♭ B	Cmaj7	♭2, ♭6	Important
1	Enigmatic Scale	1 ♭2 3 ♯4 ♯5 ♭7 7	C D♭ E F♯ G♯ B♭ B	Cmaj7	♭2, ♯4, ♯5	Advanced

Japanese Scales Family

Parent formula: 1 2 ♭3 5 ♭6

Japanese scales have a distinctive quality of austere beauty and contemplative space. Hirajoshi sounds like moonlight on still water.

Deg.	Mode	Formula	Notes in C	Chord	Char. Tone	Priority
1	Hirajoshi	1 2 ♭3 5 ♭6	C D E♭ G A♭	Cm	♭3, ♭6	Advanced
1	In Sen	1 ♭2 4 5 ♭7	C D♭ F G B♭	Cm7	♭2	Advanced