Scales by mood
How a scale feels depends on how you play it too, so each mood comes with a tip.
Scales by mood
By mood · Happy · Root C
Happy
Happy comes from major 3rd, 6th and 7th over the root, and no notes rubbing against it.
To play it happy: Bounce it: a mid to quick tempo, major chords, and land phrases on the root or the 3rd.
Hear it in a song
La Bamba · Ritchie Valens
Ionian (major). Three major chords and a bright major melody: pure party.
My Girl · The Temptations
Major pentatonic. The major pentatonic: no half steps to rub, nothing but sunshine.
- C Major C D E F G A B C 12345678WWHWWWH
- C Major Pentatonic C D E G A C 123568WWW+HWW+H
- C Bebop Dominant C D E F G A B♭ B C 123456♭778WWHWWHHH
- C Bebop Major C D E F G G♯ A B C 12345♯5678WWHWHHWH
- C Bebop Dorian C D E♭ E F G A B♭ C 12♭33456♭78WHHHWWHW
- C Mixolydian C D E F G A B♭ C 123456♭78WWHWWHW
- C Major Blues C D E♭ E G A C 12♭33568WHHW+HWW+H
- C Lydian C D E F♯ G A B C 123♯45678WWWHWWH
- C Lydian augmented C D E F♯ G♯ A B C 123♯4♯5678WWWWHWH