Music Theory Illustrated

Music Theory Illustrated: Color and Metaphor Pitches

Scales and Keys

Cycles Warm

Cool



C

The Circle of Fifths

E Phrygian

0 Sharps Relative Minor: A Minor

D Lydian

C

G Mixolydian

C

Parent Scale: G Major

D A Dorian

D

E

A

B Phrygian

D Mixolydian

Eb

F

G G#

Ab

A

      

   

A Phrygian

1 Flat Relative Minor: D Minor

Bb Lydian C Mixolydian D Aeolian

2 Sharps Relative Minor: B Minor

G Lydian

C F

Gb Db

Bb Ab

  

Eb

 

C Dorian D Phrygian

B Aeolian

G Aeolian

C# Locrian

Parent Scale: A Major

B Dorian

A Locrian

  3 Sharps Relative Minor: F# Minor

C# Phrygian D Lydian E Mixolydian



Parent Scale: E Major

F Dorian G Phrygian

F# Dorian

D Locrian

 



Parent Scale: A Major

Bb Dorian C Phrygian

B Mixolydian

Parent Scale: B Major

C# Dorian

All 12 notes of the chromatic scale C

C#

D

D#

E

F

F Aeolian

G

G#

A

A#

B

E Lydian

Diminished Scale 1 C#

D#

E

F#

G

A

B

G

F

E

Parent Scale: F# Major B

A

C

G# Dorian

Whole Tone Scale 1

A# Phrygian

The chromatic scale, beginning on C, comprised of all whole steps. C

D

E

D

E

F

G

A

5 Flats Relative Minor: Bb Minor

F Phrygian Gb Lydian

C Locrian



 

Parent Scale: G Major

Ab Dorian Bb Phrygian Cb Lydian

B

C

1 step

1 step

1 step

F#

C

C#

G

C#

D

G#

D

D

E

D#

A

D#

E

B

E

B

F

F

D# Dorian

F# Lydian G# Mixolydian A# Aeolian B# Locrian

Copyright 2008, Lee Barry. All rights reserved.

  7 Sharps Relative Minor: A# Minor

E# Phrygian

6 Flats Relative Minor: Eb Minor

F Locrian



Tri-tones

Parent Scale: C# Major



Eb Aeolian

E# Locrian

An interval spanning the distance of 3 whole tones. There are 6 groups of non-repeating tri-tones, one-half of the chromatic scale.

  

Db Mixolydian

D# Aeolian

The chromatic scale, beginning on C#, comprised of all whole steps.



Bb Aeolian

C# Mixolydian

Whole Tone Scale 2

   

Ab Mixolydian

6 Sharps Relative Minor: D# Minor

B Lydian

A#

G#

F#

Eb Dorian

A# Locrian

The chromatic scale, beginning on C#, divided in groups of alternating whole and half steps. D



Parent Scale: D Major

G# Aeolian

Diminished Scale 2 C#

 

F# Mixolydian

The chromatic scale, beginning on C, divided in groups of alternating whole and half steps. C

G Locrian

5 Sharps Relative Minor: G# Minor

D# Phrygian F#



Eb Mixolydian

D# Locrian

Chromatic Scale

   

4 Flats Relative Minor: F Minor

Db Lydian

C# Aeolian

Symmetries



C Aeolian

4 Sharps Relative Minor: C# Minor

A Lydian

Cb

  

3 Flats Relative Minor: C Minor

Ab Lydian

F# Aeolian

G# Phrygian

B



Bb Mixolydian

Parent Scale: E Major

Bb



F Mixolydian

G# Locrian

A#

 



2 Flats Relative Minor: G Minor

Eb Lydian

A Mixolydian

 



Parent Scale: B Major

 

F# Phrygian

Cb

E Locrian

Parent Scale: D Major

E Dorian

 



G Dorian

F# Locrian

The Circle of Fourths

Gb

 

Parent Scale: F Major

E Aeolian

Fb

F#

G Mixolydian

B Locrian

1 Sharp Relative Minor: E Minor

C Lydian

E#

0 Sharps Relative Minor: A Minor

D Lydian

A Aeolian

G

B

E

E Phrygian

B Locrian

F#

 

D Dorian

A Aeolian

Db

D#

Parent Scale: C Major

 

D Dorian

C#

C#

Parent Scale: C Major

Parent Scale: C Major

Db Dorian

     7 Flats Relative Minor: Ab Minor

Eb Phrygian Fb Lydian Gb Mixolydian Ab Aeolian Bb Locrian