Piano Scales & Modes Lab

Compare scale construction, modal relationships, hand ranges, and horizontal keyboard paths.

Piano Labs

Explore

Choose a scale or mode

Selections update every relationship and keyboard path instantly.

TonicScale / Mode

C major keyboard mapBlue: left hand range · Yellow: right hand range

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

Keyboard

Playable scale paths

Click a diagram to select a path

Pentatonic hand paths

C major pentatonic

Full-scale hand paths

Left-hand, right-hand, and combined ranges replace Guitar-specific 3NPS positions.

Scale–Chord Relationships

C-rooted chords in C major

Every displayed chord begins on C and uses only notes from the selected scale. Each chord is grouped into root position, inversions and open voicing, and split-hands rows.

I · Degree 1

C

C · E · G

major harmony

Root position

Left-hand root with the chord stacked from its root in the right hand.

First inversion

The third is the lowest right-hand chord tone while the left hand anchors the root.

Second inversion

The fifth is the lowest right-hand chord tone for a smoother upper structure.

Open voicing

Chord tones are spread between registers for a wider, more resonant sound.

Split hands

Lower chord tones move to the left hand while the right hand carries the upper color tones.

I · Degree 1

Cadd9

C · E · G · D

major harmony

Root position

Left-hand root with the chord stacked from its root in the right hand.

First inversion

The third is the lowest right-hand chord tone while the left hand anchors the root.

Second inversion

The fifth is the lowest right-hand chord tone for a smoother upper structure.

Open voicing

Chord tones are spread between registers for a wider, more resonant sound.

Split hands

Lower chord tones move to the left hand while the right hand carries the upper color tones.

I · Degree 1

C6add9

C · E · G · A · D

major harmony

Root position

Left-hand root with the chord stacked from its root in the right hand.

First inversion

The third is the lowest right-hand chord tone while the left hand anchors the root.

Second inversion

The fifth is the lowest right-hand chord tone for a smoother upper structure.

Open voicing

Chord tones are spread between registers for a wider, more resonant sound.

Split hands

Lower chord tones move to the left hand while the right hand carries the upper color tones.

I · Degree 1

Cmaj7

C · E · G · B

major harmony

Root position

Left-hand root with the chord stacked from its root in the right hand.

First inversion

The third is the lowest right-hand chord tone while the left hand anchors the root.

Second inversion

The fifth is the lowest right-hand chord tone for a smoother upper structure.

Open voicing

Chord tones are spread between registers for a wider, more resonant sound.

Split hands

Lower chord tones move to the left hand while the right hand carries the upper color tones.

I · Degree 1

Cmaj7add13

C · E · G · B · A

major harmony

Root position

Left-hand root with the chord stacked from its root in the right hand.

First inversion

The third is the lowest right-hand chord tone while the left hand anchors the root.

Second inversion

The fifth is the lowest right-hand chord tone for a smoother upper structure.

Open voicing

Chord tones are spread between registers for a wider, more resonant sound.

Split hands

Lower chord tones move to the left hand while the right hand carries the upper color tones.

I · Degree 1

C6

C · E · G · A

major harmony

Root position

Left-hand root with the chord stacked from its root in the right hand.

First inversion

The third is the lowest right-hand chord tone while the left hand anchors the root.

Second inversion

The fifth is the lowest right-hand chord tone for a smoother upper structure.

Open voicing

Chord tones are spread between registers for a wider, more resonant sound.

Split hands

Lower chord tones move to the left hand while the right hand carries the upper color tones.

I · Degree 1

Cmaj9

C · E · G · B · D

major harmony

Root position

Left-hand root with the chord stacked from its root in the right hand.

First inversion

The third is the lowest right-hand chord tone while the left hand anchors the root.

Second inversion

The fifth is the lowest right-hand chord tone for a smoother upper structure.

Open voicing

Chord tones are spread between registers for a wider, more resonant sound.

Split hands

Lower chord tones move to the left hand while the right hand carries the upper color tones.

Piano Scales & Modes Lab

Compare scale construction, modal relationships, hand ranges, and horizontal keyboard paths.

Piano Labs

Explore

Choose a scale or mode

Selections update every relationship and keyboard path instantly.

TonicScale / Mode

C major keyboard mapBlue: left hand range · Yellow: right hand range

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

Keyboard

Playable scale paths

Click a diagram to select a path

Pentatonic hand paths

C major pentatonic

Full-scale hand paths

Left-hand, right-hand, and combined ranges replace Guitar-specific 3NPS positions.

Scale–Chord Relationships

C-rooted chords in C major

Every displayed chord begins on C and uses only notes from the selected scale. Each chord is grouped into root position, inversions and open voicing, and split-hands rows.

I · Degree 1

C

C · E · G

major harmony

Root position

Left-hand root with the chord stacked from its root in the right hand.

First inversion

The third is the lowest right-hand chord tone while the left hand anchors the root.

Second inversion

The fifth is the lowest right-hand chord tone for a smoother upper structure.

Open voicing

Chord tones are spread between registers for a wider, more resonant sound.

Split hands

Lower chord tones move to the left hand while the right hand carries the upper color tones.

I · Degree 1

Cadd9

C · E · G · D

major harmony

Root position

Left-hand root with the chord stacked from its root in the right hand.

First inversion

The third is the lowest right-hand chord tone while the left hand anchors the root.

Second inversion

The fifth is the lowest right-hand chord tone for a smoother upper structure.

Open voicing

Chord tones are spread between registers for a wider, more resonant sound.

Split hands

Lower chord tones move to the left hand while the right hand carries the upper color tones.

I · Degree 1

C6add9

C · E · G · A · D

major harmony

Root position

Left-hand root with the chord stacked from its root in the right hand.

First inversion

The third is the lowest right-hand chord tone while the left hand anchors the root.

Second inversion

The fifth is the lowest right-hand chord tone for a smoother upper structure.

Open voicing

Chord tones are spread between registers for a wider, more resonant sound.

Split hands

Lower chord tones move to the left hand while the right hand carries the upper color tones.

I · Degree 1

Cmaj7

C · E · G · B

major harmony

Root position

Left-hand root with the chord stacked from its root in the right hand.

First inversion

The third is the lowest right-hand chord tone while the left hand anchors the root.

Second inversion

The fifth is the lowest right-hand chord tone for a smoother upper structure.

Open voicing

Chord tones are spread between registers for a wider, more resonant sound.

Split hands

Lower chord tones move to the left hand while the right hand carries the upper color tones.

I · Degree 1

Cmaj7add13

C · E · G · B · A

major harmony

Root position

Left-hand root with the chord stacked from its root in the right hand.

First inversion

The third is the lowest right-hand chord tone while the left hand anchors the root.

Second inversion

The fifth is the lowest right-hand chord tone for a smoother upper structure.

Open voicing

Chord tones are spread between registers for a wider, more resonant sound.

Split hands

Lower chord tones move to the left hand while the right hand carries the upper color tones.

I · Degree 1

C6

C · E · G · A

major harmony

Root position

Left-hand root with the chord stacked from its root in the right hand.

First inversion

The third is the lowest right-hand chord tone while the left hand anchors the root.

Second inversion

The fifth is the lowest right-hand chord tone for a smoother upper structure.

Open voicing

Chord tones are spread between registers for a wider, more resonant sound.

Split hands

Lower chord tones move to the left hand while the right hand carries the upper color tones.

I · Degree 1

Cmaj9

C · E · G · B · D

major harmony

Root position

Left-hand root with the chord stacked from its root in the right hand.

First inversion

The third is the lowest right-hand chord tone while the left hand anchors the root.

Second inversion

The fifth is the lowest right-hand chord tone for a smoother upper structure.

Open voicing

Chord tones are spread between registers for a wider, more resonant sound.

Split hands

Lower chord tones move to the left hand while the right hand carries the upper color tones.