MODERN SCALES · SCALE REFERENCE

Messiaen Mode 4 scale

Messiaen Mode 4 has 8 pitch classes. Its semitone formula from the root is 0 · 1 · 2 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 11. The example below starts on C; choose another root or tuning in the fretboard explorer.

Formula and notes in C

Two cells of semitone patterns. Each step is the semitone distance to the next tone, with the last step returning to the root an octave higher.

Note in CIntervalSemitones from rootStep to next tone
CRoot01
C#Minor 2nd11
DMajor 2nd23
FPerfect 4th51
F#Tritone61
GPerfect 5th71
G#Minor 6th83
BMajor 7th111

FREE FRETBOARD REFERENCE

C Messiaen Mode 4 on the fretboard

Find each scale tone in a catalog tuning. Filled notes marked R are roots; outlined notes are other tones. Open strings are fret 0.

6-String Guitar referenceStandard tuning and this scale

6-String Guitar · Standard · Frets 0–12 · All scale tones

C Messiaen Mode 4 in Standard on 6-String GuitarPhysical string order is preserved, with the first catalog string at the bottom. Read exact frets and pitches in the table below. Roots carry an R marker.0123456789101112E2A2D3G3B3E4String 1, fret 1: F2FString 1, fret 2: F#2F#String 1, fret 3: G2GString 1, fret 4: G#2G#String 1, fret 7: B2BString 1, fret 8: C3, rootCRString 1, fret 9: C#3C#String 1, fret 10: D3DString 2, fret 2: B2BString 2, fret 3: C3, rootCRString 2, fret 4: C#3C#String 2, fret 5: D3DString 2, fret 8: F3FString 2, fret 9: F#3F#String 2, fret 10: G3GString 2, fret 11: G#3G#String 3, fret 0: D3DString 3, fret 3: F3FString 3, fret 4: F#3F#String 3, fret 5: G3GString 3, fret 6: G#3G#String 3, fret 9: B3BString 3, fret 10: C4, rootCRString 3, fret 11: C#4C#String 3, fret 12: D4DString 4, fret 0: G3GString 4, fret 1: G#3G#String 4, fret 4: B3BString 4, fret 5: C4, rootCRString 4, fret 6: C#4C#String 4, fret 7: D4DString 4, fret 10: F4FString 4, fret 11: F#4F#String 4, fret 12: G4GString 5, fret 0: B3BString 5, fret 1: C4, rootCRString 5, fret 2: C#4C#String 5, fret 3: D4DString 5, fret 6: F4FString 5, fret 7: F#4F#String 5, fret 8: G4GString 5, fret 9: G#4G#String 5, fret 12: B4BString 6, fret 1: F4FString 6, fret 2: F#4F#String 6, fret 3: G4GString 6, fret 4: G#4G#String 6, fret 7: B4BString 6, fret 8: C5, rootCRString 6, fret 9: C#5C#String 6, fret 10: D5D

Notes-per-string views select the first matching scale tones on each string at or above the starting fret, within a 12-fret window. These are position studies: crossing strings can repeat or skip pitches. They are not guaranteed continuous ascending runs or finger assignments. Four-note layouts can require stretches or position shifts.

Fret positions and pitches · first catalog string to last
Open stringFretsNotes with octaves
1 · E21 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10F2 · F#2 · G2 · G#2 · B2 · C3 · C#3 · D3
2 · A22 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11B2 · C3 · C#3 · D3 · F3 · F#3 · G3 · G#3
3 · D30 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12D3 · F3 · F#3 · G3 · G#3 · B3 · C4 · C#4 · D4
4 · G30 · 1 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 10 · 11 · 12G3 · G#3 · B3 · C4 · C#4 · D4 · F4 · F#4 · G4
5 · B30 · 1 · 2 · 3 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 12B3 · C4 · C#4 · D4 · F4 · F#4 · G4 · G#4 · B4
6 · E41 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10F4 · F#4 · G4 · G#4 · B4 · C5 · C#5 · D5

Major and minor chords contained in the C example

C# MajorF MinorG MajorB Minor

Scales with nearby interval patterns

Compare these formulas at the same root to see which tones change.

Double Harmonic (Byzantine)Harmonic MajorHarmonic MinorHungarian Minor (Gypsy)

Keep exploring

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