At the end of every semester at SDSU, music students are required to perform juries. In the jazz department, this consists of performing and improvising on a couple tunes, some sight reading, and performance of an array of scales in random keys. The scales have always been the easiest part for me; as a guitarist, once I know a scale in one key I can use that pattern for any key.

This semester (my third, and the last one with a jury) will be a little more challenging, as the required scales are cumulative. I'll need to be able to recall all the previous scales in addition to the new ones assigned this semester. Here's the entire graduate scale syllabus.

I had no idea how to use half of these before I started last year. In the last two semesters, I've been given a pretty good idea of their applications. Execution of those applications is an entirely different story. Check back in a few years.

Which ones do you use? I personally enjoy learning and knowing scales, but some say it's unnecessarily technical. What do you think? Is this essential information or a bunch of nonsense? Leave a comment. (You probably know my answer.)

Be Bop Major
1 2 3 4 5 b6 6 7

Be Bop Dorian
1 2 b3 3 4 5 6 b7

Be Bop Mixo Lydian
1 2 3 4 5 6 b7 7

Minor Blues Mode
1 2 b3 4 b5 5 b7

Jazz Melodic Minor Mode
1 2 b3 4 5 6 7

Lydian Mode
1 2 3 #4 5 6 7

Harmonic Minor Mode
1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7

Lydian Dominant Mode
1 2 3 #4 5 6 b7

Aeolian Mode
1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7

Symmetrical Dominant Mode
1 b2 b3 3 b5 5 6 b7

Locrian Mode
1 b2 b3 4 b5 b6 b7

Lydian Augmented Mode
1 2 3 #4 #5 6 7

Phrygian Mode
1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7

Altered Dominant Mode
1 b2 b3 3 b5 b6 b7

Whole Tone Scale
1 2 3 b5 b6 b7

Locrian Mode with Natural 2nd (a.k.a. Aeolian Mode with b5)
1 2 b3 4 b5 b6 b7

Harmonic Major Mode
1 2 3 4 5 b6 7

Oriental Dominant Mode
1 b2 3 4 b5 6 b7

Minor Blues Mode w/added Ma7
1 2 b3 4 b5 5 b7 7

Augmented Scale I
1 b3 3 5 b6 7

Augmented Scale II
1 b2 3 4 b6 6