AP Music Theory: Scales

tonic

tonic

1

supertonic

2

mediant

3

subdominant

4

dominant

5

submediant

6

leading tone / subtonic

7

anacrusis

pickup note

major scale

W W H W W W H

natural minor

W H W W H W W

harmonic minor

W H W W H WH H

melodic minor

W H W W W W H

C major / A minor

G major / E minor

D major / B minor

A major / F# minor

E major / C# minor

B major / G# minor

F# major / D# minor

C# major / A# minor

F major / D minor

Bb major / G minor

Eb major / C minor

Ab major / F minor

Db major / Bb minor

Gb major / Eb minor

Cb major / Ab minor

Order of Flats

B E A D G C F

Order of Sharps

F C G D A E B

pentatonic scale

1, 2, 3, 5, 6 (no 4th and 7th)

ionian scale

Starts on tonic (major scale)

dorian scale

Starts on supertonic (natural minor with raised 6th)

phrygian scale

Starts on mediant (natural minor with lowered 2nd)

lydian scale

Starts on subdominant (major scale with raised 4th)

mixolydian scale

Starts on dominant (major scale with lowered 7th)

aeolian scale

Starts on submediant (natural minor)

locrian scale

Starts on leading tone