Pop Piano Scales

Most pop songs live in a major key or its relative minor, and most pop melodies stay inside a pentatonic subset of that key. These are the scales worth knowing first if the goal is to play along with records or to write your own.

36 scales carry this tag, across 3 scale types: major, natural minor, major pentatonic. 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.

Natural Minor Scales

The basis of minor keys. Dark, emotional, and introspective.

Major Pentatonic Scales

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

Other tags

The same 120 scales, sorted a different way.

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