Guitar Scale Finder — Reverse Scale Lookup from Notes, Chords & Fretboard
Heard a lick and wondering what scale is that? Enter the notes — or tap them on the fretboard — and this free online guitar scale finder tool identifies the scale with reverse lookup, ranked by fit. Also find scales from a chord progression, browse 48 scales with interactive fretboard diagrams, and hear every scale with built-in audio. No signup, no download, 100% in your browser.
Which scale contains these notes?
Tap note buttons (each plays its pitch) or click frets on the diagram. Try E G A B D — the classic test.
Browse 48 scales
Notes:
Intervals:
What scale fits this chord progression?
Separate with spaces or commas. Understands maj, min, 7, maj7, m7, dim, aug, sus2/sus4, add9, 6, 9, 7b5, m7b5, dim7, mMaj7 and slash chords (e.g. Dm7 G7 Cmaj7).
How reverse scale lookup works
A normal scale calculator starts from a scale you already chose. A reverse guitar scale finder — also called a guitar scale identifier or guitar scale lookup — solves the opposite problem: you know some notes — from a riff, a solo, or a melody stuck in your head — and you want to know which scale they belong to. Use the guitar scale finder by notes: type them, tap the buttons, or click frets.
This tool compares your notes against 48 scales in all 12 keys (576 combinations) and ranks every match by fit:
- Exact fits first — scales containing precisely your notes, no more, no less.
- Scales rooted on one of your notes — if you played C–E–G, C major outranks distant relatives.
- Most-used scales first — major, minor pentatonic and blues sort above exotic scales with equal coverage.
Each result shows the match as n/m notes, the full scale spelling, and the interval formula, and one click loads it onto the fretboard.
From chords to scales
Songwriters ask a slightly different question: what scale fits this chord progression? This guitar chord and scale finder collects every chord tone in your progression — the same notes as the arpeggios — and runs the same ranked lookup. Am – G – F uses the seven notes of C major, so C major and A natural minor top the list. Jazz players can paste Dm7 – G7 – Cmaj7 and immediately see the ii–V–I parent scales. It works as a guitar scale finder from chords, by chords, or with chords — however you phrase it.
Scale theory in 60 seconds
Every scale is a recipe of intervals measured in semitones from the root. Major is 0–2–4–5–7–9–11 (whole–whole–half–whole–whole–whole–half). Natural minor is 0–2–3–5–7–8–10. The minor pentatonic — the backbone of rock and blues lead guitar — is just five notes: 0–3–5–7–10. The scale browser shows each scale's interval formula under its notes, so you learn the construction, not just the shape.
7-string, bass and alternate tunings
Modern metal lives on seven strings, and this guitar scale finder 7 string mode renders a full B–E–A–D–G–B–E fretboard for every scale. Bassists get a dedicated bass guitar scale finder view with a 4-string neck. Because note positions are computed from the open-string pitches, drop D, DADGAD, open G and half-step-down tunings all diagram correctly — every scale finder guitar fretboard stays accurate.
Comparison: this finder vs other scale tools
| Feature | This finder | JGuitar | scales-chords.com | WaayFinder (iOS app) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reverse lookup (notes → scale) | Yes, ranked | No | No | Yes |
| From-chords mode | Yes | No | No | No |
| Audio playback | Yes (WebAudio) | No | Yes | Yes |
| 7-string fretboard | Yes | No | No | — |
| Number of scales | 48 | ~40 | ~25 | ~20 |
| Free on the web, no install | Yes | Yes | Yes | Paid iOS app |
| Private (no data leaves browser) | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Unknown |
Checked October 2026. Feature lists describe the free web versions.
Use cases
Improvisation & songwriting
Found a chord progression you love? The From Chords tab tells you which scales — and therefore which extra color tones — are available for solos and melodies over it.
Learning the fretboard
Pick any of the 48 scales, choose a root, and study the full 15-fret map. The root notes glow orange so you always know where home is; toggle flats if you read Bb instead of A#.
Frequently asked questions
How does reverse scale lookup work?
Enter the notes you are playing (or click them on the fretboard). The finder compares your notes against 48 scales in all 12 keys — 576 combinations — and ranks matches by fit: exact matches first, then scales rooted on one of your notes, then the most common scales. Each result shows which of your notes matched and the full scale notes.
What scale am I playing if my notes are E G A B D?
E G A B D is E minor pentatonic — an exact 5-for-5 fit. Its relative major, G major pentatonic, contains the same five notes and ranks second. Type or tap those notes into the reverse lookup tab to see the full ranking.
Can I find a scale from chords, like Am G F?
Yes. Use the From Chords tab and type your progression (for example: Am G F). The tool collects every chord tone, then finds scales containing all of them. Am G F uses the notes of C major / A natural minor, so those rank at the top. It understands 30+ chord types including 7ths, sus, add9, dim and slash chords.
Does it support 7-string guitar?
Yes. Choose the 7-string standard tuning (B E A D G B E) from the tuning menu and every fretboard diagram renders seven strings. Custom tunings are supported too — the diagrams update instantly.
Can it identify a scale by sound, from audio?
Not directly — this tool does not listen to your microphone or analyze audio files. If you can pick out the notes by ear, tap them on the note buttons (each button plays its pitch so you can match by ear) and the reverse lookup will identify the scale.
How is this different from JGuitar or scales-chords.com?
Those are scale calculators: you pick a scale and they show it. This finder works backwards — you give it notes or chords and it tells you which scales fit, ranked by fit. It also adds audio playback of every scale, 7-string fretboards, and a from-chords mode that suggests scales for a whole progression. See the comparison table above for details.
What is the difference between a scale finder and a scale calculator?
A scale calculator shows you the notes and fretboard positions of a scale you already chose. A scale finder (reverse lookup) solves the opposite problem: given notes or chords, which scales contain them? This tool does both — reverse lookup tabs plus a full 48-scale browser.
How many scales are included?
48 scales: all seven major modes, natural/harmonic/melodic minor, major and minor pentatonics, blues scales, symmetric scales (whole tone, diminished, augmented, chromatic), jazz scales (bebop family, altered, lydian dominant), and world scales (Japanese insen/hirajoshi/iwato/kumoi, Hungarian minor, Persian, double harmonic, Egyptian, Chinese and more).
What are the 5 positions of the pentatonic scale?
The five pentatonic box positions are the five overlapping fretboard patterns that tile the neck. Select Minor Pentatonic in the scale browser, pick your root, and the fretboard diagram highlights every pentatonic note across 15 frets — slide the diagram mentally to see each box connect to the next.
Is my data sent anywhere? Is it private?
Everything runs 100% in your browser. No notes, chords, or selections are sent to any server — the page makes zero network requests after loading. There is nothing to sign up for and nothing is stored.
Can I use a custom tuning?
The tuning menu includes standard, drop D, half-step down, DADGAD, open G, 7-string standard and 4-string bass. Fretboard note positions are computed from the open-string pitches, so every diagram stays correct in any tuning.
What do the interval labels like b3 and #4 mean?
Intervals are measured in semitones from the root: 1 is the root, b3 is a minor third (3 semitones), 5 is a perfect fifth (7 semitones), b7 is a minor seventh (10 semitones). The scale browser shows the interval formula under every scale so you can see its construction.
Why do several scales match my notes?
Because scales share notes — for example, C major, A natural minor, D dorian and G mixolydian all contain the same seven pitch classes in different orders. The ranking puts exact fits first, then prefers scales rooted on one of your notes, then the most commonly used scales, so the most useful answer is on top.
Is it free? Do I need an account?
Completely free, no account, no signup, no download. It is a single web page that works offline once loaded.
Does it work for bass guitar?
Yes — select the 4-string bass tuning (E A D G) and the fretboard renders four strings. The reverse lookup and scale theory are identical for bass; only the string count changes.