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Learning Ukulele with Curt
Essential Jazz Scales for `Ukulele
After you mastering the six essentials scales below and start to explore more advanced styles of music, especially jazz. There are a few more scales that are needed to cover the broader harmonic palette that a typical jazz tune draws from.
Author(s): Curt Sheller Publisher: Curt Sheller Publications Code: UL04j
Main Category: Scales Main Instrument: Ukulele
Categories: Blues, Chords, Jazz, Scales, Theory, Melody, Rock, Advanced
2026-08-23
Number of Pages: 6
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A scale is simply a collection of pitches or notes, not really “this is a Jazz scale", “this is a Blues” or “this is a Rock scale”. It’s how a scale is used that really matters.
Most music starts with a scale. The melody, chords, licks and riffs all can be related back to a particular scale or scales.
After you mastering the six essentials scales below and start to explore more advanced styles of music, especially jazz. There are a few more scales that are needed to cover the broader harmonic palette that a typical jazz tune draws from.
Checkout the Related Video below for Examples in C Tuning, Open Position .
Due to the rich harmonic content of songs and composition in the jazz repertoire the essential scale are, with their alternate/traditional names :
Scale Modes
- Ionian (Major)
- Dorian (Minor)
- Phrygian
- Lydian
- Mixolydian (Dominant)
- Aeolian (Natural Minor)
- Locrian
Traditional Scales
- Harmonic Minor
- Jazz Minor - Descending Melodic Minor, Tonic Minor
- Whole Tone
- Diminished
More Essential Jazz Scales for `Ukulele
content below, continue exploring...
More Essential Jazz Scales for `Ukulele
Altered Scales
- Mixolydian +4 (Lydian Dominant)
- Mixolydian -2 -6
- Whole Tone
- Diminished
Contemporary Scales
- Blues (Minor Pentatonic)
- Pentatonic (Major Pentatonic)
And a few other altered and add note scales are common. After master the above scales is should be no problem deriving additional scales from these essential scales.
Essential Scale for Exploring Jazz
All scale examples are shown with a C root for comparison.
Contemporary Scales
- Blues or Minor Pentatonic* ( C, E♭, F, G, B♭, C` )
- Pentatonic or Major Pentatonic ( C D E G A C` )
Modal Scales
- Ionian ( C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C` )
- Dorian ( C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C` )
- Phrygian ( C, Db, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C` )
- Lydian ( C, D, E, F♯, G, A, B, C` )
- Mixolydian or Dominant ( C, D, E, F, G, A, B♭, C` )
- Aeolian or Natural Minor ( C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C` )
- Locrian ( C, D♭, E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B♭, C` )
Notice: All the modal scales end in ian
.
Traditional Scales
- Major ( C D E F G A B C` )
- Natural Minor ( C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C` )
- Harmonic Minor ( C D E♭ F G A♭ B C` )
- Jazz Melodic Minor ( C D E♭ F G A B C` )
- Diminished ( C D E♭ F G♭ A♭ A B C`)
- Whole Tone ( C D E F♯ G♯ A♯ C`)
Altered Scales
- Mixolydian +4 or Lydian Dominant ( C D E F♯ G A B♭ C` )
- Mixolydian -2, -6 ( C D♭ E F G A♭ B♭ C` )
- Mixolydian -2 ( C D♭ E F G A B♭ C` )
- Mixolydian -6 ( C D E F G A♭ B♭ C` )
- Double Chromatic ( C D♭ D♯ E F♯ G3♯ A Bb C`) - For a C7 chord start on the b7 (B♭)
Supplemental Scales
- Inverted Diminished ( C D♭ D♯ E F♯ G A B♭ C` )
- Super Locrian ( C D♭ E♭ F♭ G♭ A♭ B♭ C` )
* There is some overlap with these essential scales, with some just alternate names for the same set of notes.
DERIVED SCALES — From these essential jazz scales other scales can be derived for use in the jazz idiom.
Most of the above scales are available as an individual book from my QuickStart Series of Scale and Arpeggio Fingering series books.
QuickStart Scale & Arpeggio Fingerings are a highly organized, efficient system of scale and arpeggio fingerings. Each fingering pattern is shown with a fingerboard shape, TAB and standard music notation. Related chords are also explained for each scale.
Master these fingerings and unlock your potential for improvisation.
Whether your interest is in Blues, Rock, Jazz, Country or somewhere in between ant QuickStart Scale & Arpeggio Fingerings Series book is a valuable addition to your musical library.
End of Lesson - Thanks, Hope You Enjoyed It!
Related Lessons, Videos, Lesson Series, Songs, Books & Reference Charts, Resources & Assets, Workshops are below.