Bright Piano Scales

These scales all have a major 3rd, and none of them carry a dissonance sharp enough to darken the sound. They are the ones to reach for when a line needs to feel open rather than loaded.

36 scales carry this tag, across 3 scale types: major, major pentatonic, mixolydian. Each one has its notes spelled for that key, a fingering worked out for that key, and a piano you can play it on.

Major Scales

The foundation of Western music. Bright, happy, and resolved.

Major Pentatonic Scales

A five-note scale that sounds universally pleasant — used in folk, pop, and rock.

Mixolydian Scales

A dominant-sounding mode — the sound of classic rock and funk.

Other tags

The same 120 scales, sorted a different way.

Back to the full scale library for all 120 scales grouped by type.