Method Scale Finder

Tool by Reinaldo Assis

Fit the major-scale shape over any tonic and see, for each degree, which Greek mode appears and how to name each note’s interval relative to the new reference.

Major scale shape

Tonic: G major

Strings 6, 5, and 4 — ideal to start.

Drag degree 1 or click any fret to fit the shape. Below, each scale degree as tonic reveals a Greek mode and its intervals.

open
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
E
B
G
D
A
E

Greek modes of this scale

Same notes as G major — only which degree you treat as tonic changes.

G Ionian (first Greek mode)

Also known as: Major scale, Major mode, Ionian

Tonic: G (1 degree of G major)

  1. 1.G—Tonic
  2. 2.A—Major second
  3. 3.B—Major third
  4. 4.C—Perfect fourth
  5. 5.D—Perfect fifth
  6. 6.E—Major sixth
  7. 7.F♯—Major seventh

A Dorian (second Greek mode)

Also known as: Dorian scale, Dorian

Tonic: A (2 degree of G major)

  1. 1.A—Tonic
  2. 2.B—Major second
  3. 3.C—Minor third
  4. 4.D—Perfect fourth
  5. 5.E—Perfect fifth
  6. 6.F♯—Major sixth
  7. 7.G—Minor seventh

B Phrygian (third Greek mode)

Also known as: Phrygian scale, Phrygian

Tonic: B (3 degree of G major)

  1. 1.B—Tonic
  2. 2.C—Minor second
  3. 3.D—Minor third
  4. 4.E—Perfect fourth
  5. 5.F♯—Perfect fifth
  6. 6.G—Minor sixth
  7. 7.A—Minor seventh

C Lydian (fourth Greek mode)

Also known as: Lydian scale, Lydian

Tonic: C (4 degree of G major)

  1. 1.C—Tonic
  2. 2.D—Major second
  3. 3.E—Major third
  4. 4.F♯—Augmented fourth
  5. 5.G—Perfect fifth
  6. 6.A—Major sixth
  7. 7.B—Major seventh

D Mixolydian (fifth Greek mode)

Also known as: Mixolydian scale, Mixolydian

Tonic: D (5 degree of G major)

  1. 1.D—Tonic
  2. 2.E—Major second
  3. 3.F♯—Major third
  4. 4.G—Perfect fourth
  5. 5.A—Perfect fifth
  6. 6.B—Major sixth
  7. 7.C—Minor seventh

E Aeolian (sixth Greek mode)

Also known as: Natural minor scale, Aeolian minor scale, Aeolian

Tonic: E (6 degree of G major)

  1. 1.E—Tonic
  2. 2.F♯—Major second
  3. 3.G—Minor third
  4. 4.A—Perfect fourth
  5. 5.B—Perfect fifth
  6. 6.C—Minor sixth
  7. 7.D—Minor seventh

F♯ Locrian (seventh Greek mode)

Also known as: Locrian scale, Locrian

Tonic: F♯ (7 degree of G major)

  1. 1.F♯—Tonic
  2. 2.G—Minor second
  3. 3.A—Minor third
  4. 4.B—Perfect fourth
  5. 5.C—Diminished fifth
  6. 6.D—Minor sixth
  7. 7.E—Minor seventh