Guitar Scales & Modes Lab

Compare scale construction, modal relationships, and playable guitar paths across the fretboard.

Guitar Labs

Explore

Choose a scale or mode

Selections update every relationship and fretboard path instantly.

TonicScale / Mode

Full fretboard6-string standard · open strings through fret 22

Harmony map

Circle of fifths

C major

Scale anatomy

C major

I / M Major · i / m Minor · ° / dim Diminished · + / aug Augmented · P1 Unison · P4 Perfect 4th · P5 Perfect 5th · P8 Octave

I · MC1

ii · mD2

iii · mE3

IV · MF4

V · MG5

vi · mA6

vii° · dimB7

Degrees

IIIIIIIVVVIVII

Tonic chordCC · E · G · major triad

Relative minorA minorA · B · C · D · E · F · G

Parallel minorC minorC · D · Eb · F · G · Ab · Bb

Scale Origin

Where C Major comes from

C Major is the I mode of C Major.

Parent scaleC Major

Mode IStarts on the first degree of the major scale.

Selected scaleC Major

Parent scale notes

Parent mode IC Ionian (Major)

C is degree 1 of C Major. Starting the displayed parent notes on C produces C Ionian (Major). It uses the same notes as C Major; the note heard as the tonal center is what changes.

Mode notesC · D · E · F · G · A · BFormula1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7

Origin Diagram

Parent degree map

C Major

Highlighted degree: I · C

Fretboard

Playable scale paths

Selected position: C-CAGED

Pentatonic positions

C major pentatonic

Three notes per string

Expanded paths that avoid duplicate pitches on adjacent strings.

Scale–Chord Relationships

C-rooted chords in C major

Every displayed chord begins on C and uses only notes from the selected scale. Each row maps that chord through all five CAGED positions.

Guitar Scales & Modes Lab

Compare scale construction, modal relationships, and playable guitar paths across the fretboard.

Guitar Labs

Explore

Choose a scale or mode

Selections update every relationship and fretboard path instantly.

TonicScale / Mode

Full fretboard6-string standard · open strings through fret 22

Harmony map

Circle of fifths

C major

Scale anatomy

C major

I / M Major · i / m Minor · ° / dim Diminished · + / aug Augmented · P1 Unison · P4 Perfect 4th · P5 Perfect 5th · P8 Octave

I · MC1

ii · mD2

iii · mE3

IV · MF4

V · MG5

vi · mA6

vii° · dimB7

Degrees

IIIIIIIVVVIVII

Tonic chordCC · E · G · major triad

Relative minorA minorA · B · C · D · E · F · G

Parallel minorC minorC · D · Eb · F · G · Ab · Bb

Scale Origin

Where C Major comes from

C Major is the I mode of C Major.

Parent scaleC Major

Mode IStarts on the first degree of the major scale.

Selected scaleC Major

Parent scale notes

Parent mode IC Ionian (Major)

C is degree 1 of C Major. Starting the displayed parent notes on C produces C Ionian (Major). It uses the same notes as C Major; the note heard as the tonal center is what changes.

Mode notesC · D · E · F · G · A · BFormula1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7

Origin Diagram

Parent degree map

C Major

Highlighted degree: I · C

Fretboard

Playable scale paths

Selected position: C-CAGED

Pentatonic positions

C major pentatonic

Three notes per string

Expanded paths that avoid duplicate pitches on adjacent strings.

Scale–Chord Relationships

C-rooted chords in C major

Every displayed chord begins on C and uses only notes from the selected scale. Each row maps that chord through all five CAGED positions.

Choose a scale or mode

Circle of fifths

C major

Where C Major comes from

Parent degree map

Playable scale paths

Pentatonic positions

Three notes per string

C-rooted chords in C major

C

Cadd9

C6add9

Cmaj7

Cmaj7add13

C6

Cmaj9

Choose a scale or mode

Circle of fifths

C major

Where C Major comes from

Parent degree map

Playable scale paths

Pentatonic positions

Three notes per string

C-rooted chords in C major

C

Cadd9

C6add9

Cmaj7

Cmaj7add13

C6

Cmaj9