The Dominant 7th Tree of Scales
(3rds and 7ths are underlined and in bold type)
Dominant 7th: C7 = C D E F G A Bb C This is the basic dominant 7th sound.
Be careful how you treat the 4th note of the scale.
Bebop Scale: C7 = C D E F G A Bb B C Play the B natural as a passing tone,
always on the upbeat, never on the downbeat.
Lydian Dominant: C7+4 = C D E F# G A Bb C The sharp 4th is a favorite note in jazz.
It used to be called the flat 5th.
Whole Tone: C7+5 = C D E F# G# Bb C This scale only has six tones. It is a symmetrical scale
used often in cartoon music and Debussey and Ravel. It also has the sharp 4th.
Diminished: C7b9 = C Db D# E F# G A Bb C This scale has 8 different tones and is symmetrical.
It too, is used a lot in cartoon music.
Diminished Whole-Tone: C7+9 = C Db D# E F# G# Bb C This scale has four altered tones
and they create beautiful tension in music.
Spanish or Jewish Scale: C7(b9) = C Db E F G Ab Bb C This scale is used often when
playing in a minor key. It is the same as F harmonic minor.
Chromatic Scale: C7 = C Db D Eb E F F# G G# A Bb B C This is the musical alphabet.
All other scales come from this scale. It has all 12 tones.
