Scale Finder
A piano scale finder and scale identifier for melodies and riffs: pick notes on the keyboard, see which scales fit with exact matches first, then play the scale or write a melody in it.
Pick the notes you hear or play
Select two or more notes. Notes in any octave count as the same note. Keys with an accent bar are the other notes of the scale shown on the right.
Free, no sign-in. Want the key of a recording instead? Use the Key & BPM Finder.
Matching scales appear here
Pick a few notes from a melody or a riff. For C, D, E, G and A, for example: C major pentatonic and A minor pentatonic.
How to find the scale of a melody
- 1
Pick the notes
Click the notes of a melody, riff or chord on the keyboard. Octaves do not matter: a C is a C anywhere. Three or four notes narrow it down; five to seven usually find the scale.
- 2
Read the matches
Scales with exactly your notes come first, then scales with one or two more. Select a scale to see its notes, with its other notes marked on the keyboard.
- 3
Play it or use it
Select Play scale to hear it, or write a melody in it with the Melody Generator. The finder is free and needs no account.
Why several scales can fit the same notes
Many scales share notes. C major and A natural minor use the same seven notes; so do the modes built on them, such as D Dorian and G Mixolydian. What changes is the home note: the one the melody keeps returning to and ends on. If the tune feels settled on A, it is probably A minor; if it rests on C, C major. The finder lists the scale whose root you selected first above the others, so start with the note that feels like home.
Common scales and their steps
| Scale | Steps (W = whole, H = half) | In C | Sounds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major | W W H W W W H | C D E F G A B | Bright, settled |
| Natural minor | W H W W H W W | C D Eb F G Ab Bb | Sad, serious |
| Harmonic minor | W H W W H W+H H | C D Eb F G Ab B | Dramatic, classical |
| Major pentatonic | W W W+H W W+H | C D E G A | Open, folk and pop |
| Minor pentatonic | W+H W W W+H W | C Eb F G Bb | Rock and blues riffs |
| Blues | W+H W H H W+H W | C Eb F Gb G Bb | Bluesy, with the "blue" note |
| Dorian | W H W W W H W | C D Eb F G A Bb | Minor but hopeful, funk and jazz |
| Mixolydian | W W H W W H W | C D E F G A Bb | Major with a bluesy seventh, rock |
Find the scale or key of a song
To work out a song by ear, hum or play its melody, note the pitches with the Pitch Detector, and enter them here. To get the key of a recording straight from the audio file, use the Key & BPM Finder. Once you know the scale, the Chord Progression Generator gives chords that fit, and the Melody Generator writes a melody in it.
Frequently asked questions
What scale is this melody in?
Click the notes of the melody on the keyboard above. Scales with exactly those notes come first; if several fit, the one that starts on the note the melody rests on is usually the answer.
What scale is C D E G A?
C major pentatonic, or A minor pentatonic if the melody rests on A. Both use exactly those five notes.
How many notes do I need?
Two notes already narrow the list. Five to seven different notes usually point to one or two scales.
Does it work for guitar?
Yes. Enter the notes you play on any instrument; the finder only needs the note names, not where they are on the neck.
Can it find the scale from an audio file?
Not this tool. The Key & BPM Finder detects the key of an uploaded song, and the Pitch Detector shows the notes of a melody you sing or play.
Is the scale finder free?
Yes. It runs in your browser, with no account and no limits.
Updated October 31, 2026 · Written and reviewed by the Songluna AI team
Turn your scale into a song
Describe a song in the AI song maker and set the key in your prompt. New accounts get 8 free credits.