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This post shows the notes included in the major scales and how they are played on a solo layout 12 hole chromatic harmonica in key of C. The idea is to help visualise the different keys. Repeated or choice notes are shown so you may make your own choice from the alternatives shown. In all the diagrams, the upper two rows are the blow notes, and the lower two rows are the draw notes; the top and bottom rows are played with the slide pressed, as shown in the diagram for C Major. In all cases (for Ionian/Major) the tonic note is shown in red, the Third in green and the Fifth in blue.

Chromatic Harmonica Scales
Chromatic Harmonica Scales

In Western music theory there are only 12 chromatic notes in an octave, so there are four enharmonics which are not shown in these tables:

  • Fb which is the same note as E
  • E# which is the same note as F
  • Cb which is the same note as B
  • B# which is the same note as C

You can read more about music theory on this website.

I have also added all the other scales each layout represents, the tonic is the name of the scale. All references to minor scale are Natural Minor, for Harmonic minor raise the sixth (from minor tonic) a semi tone, for Melodic Minor raise both the sixth & seventh (from minor tonic) by a semitone when going up the scale


C Major, A minor

No Sharps or Flats in Signature.
A Natural Minor AKA Aeolian. B Locrian. C Ionian. D Dorian. E Phrygian. F Lydian. G Mixolydian.

Blow, Slide In.F...F...F..
Blow, Slide OutCEGCCEGCCEGC
Draw, Slide OutDFABDFABDFAB
Draw, Slide In...C...C...D

G Major, E minor

F#. Signature
E Natural Minor AKA Aeolian. F# Locrian. G Ionian. A Dorian. B Phrygian. C Lydian. D Mixolydian.

............
CEGCCEGCCEGC
D.ABD.ABD.AB
.F#.C.F#.C.F#.D

D Major, B minor

F#, C#. Signature
B Natural Minor AKA Aeolian. C# Locrian. D Ionian. E Dorian. F# Phrygian. G Lydian. A Mixolydian.

C#..C#C#..C#C#..C#
.EG..EG..EG.
D.ABD.ABD.AB
.F#...F#...F#.D

A Major, F#/Gb minor

F#, C#, G#. Signature
F# Natural Minor AKA Aeolian. G# Locrian. A Ionian. B Dorian. C# Phrygian. D Lydian. E Mixolydian.

C#.G#C#C#.G#C#C#.G#C#
.E...E...E..
D.ABD.ABD.AB
.F#...F#...F#.D

E Major, C#/Db minor

F#, C#, G#, D#. Signature
C# Natural Minor AKA Aeolian. D# Locrian. E Ionian. F# Dorian. G# Phrygian. A Lydian. B Mixolydian.

C#.G#C#C#.G#C#C#.G#C#
.E...E...E..
..AB..AB..AB
D#F#..D#F#..D#F#..

B Major, G#/Ab minor

F#, C#, G#, D#, A# Signature
G# Natural Minor AKA Aeolian. A# Locrian. B Ionian. C# Dorian. D# Phrygian. E Lydian. F# Mixolydian.

C#.G#C#C#.G#C#C#.G#C#
.E...E...E..
...B...B...B
D#F#A#.D#F#A#.D#F#A#.

F# Major, D#/Eb minor

F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E#/F. Signature
D# Natural Minor AKA Aeolian. E# Locrian. F# Ionian. G# Dorian. A# Phrygian. B Lydian. C# Mixolydian.

C#E#G#C#C#E#G#C#C#E#G#C#
............
.E#.B.E#.B.E#.B
D#F#A#.D#F#A#.D#F#A#.


F Major, D minor

Bb. Signature
D Natural Minor AKA Aeolian. E Locrian. F Ionian. G Dorian. A Phrygian. Bb Lydian. C Mixolydian.

.F...F...F..
CEGCCEGCCEGC
DFA.DFA.DFA.
..BbC..BbC..BbD

Bb Major, G minor

Bb, Eb. Signature
G Natural Minor AKA Aeolian. A Locrian. Bb Ionian. C Dorian. D Phrygian. Eb Lydian. F Mixolydian.

.F...F...F..
C.GCC.GCC.GC
DFA.DFA.DFA.
Eb.BbCEb.BbCEb.BbD

Eb Major, C minor

Bb, Eb, Ab. Signature
C Natural Minor AKA Aeolian. D Locrian. Eb Ionian. F Dorian. G Phrygian. Ab Lydian. Bb Mixolydian.

.FAb..FAb..FAb.
C.GCC.GCC.GC
DF..DF..DF..
Eb.BbCEb.BbCEb.BbD

Ab Major, F minor

Bb, Eb, Ab, Db. Signature
F Natural Minor AKA Aeolian. G Locrian. Ab Ionian. Bb Dorian. C Phrygian. Db Lydian. Eb Mixolydian.

DbFAbDbDbFAbDbDbFAbDb
C.GCC.GCC.GC
.F...F...F..
Eb.BbCEb.BbCEb.Bb.

Db Major, Bb minor

Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb. Signature
Bb Natural Minor AKA Aeolian. C Locrian. Db Ionian. Eb Dorian. F Phrygian. Gb Lydian. Ab Mixolydian.

DbFAbDbDbFAbDbDbFAbDb
C..CC..CC..C
.F...F...F..
EbGbBbCEbGbBbCEbGbBb.

Source: Internet

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