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Instant guitar scale finder

What Scale to Play Over Any Chord

Type in a chord and instantly get guitar-friendly scale choices, chord tones, simple theory, and a practical starting idea for your next solo.

Examples: G, Am, D7, Cmaj7, F#m, Bb7, Dsus4. Flats are converted to their sharp equivalents.

Chord name examples

Use the root note first, then the chord type. Sharps use # and flats use b.

G
Major
Gm
Minor
G7
Dominant 7
Gmaj7
Major 7
Gm7
Minor 7
Gsus4 or Gsus2
Suspended
Bb
Flat chord
F#
Sharp chord

Please enter a chord starting with A, B, C, D, E, F, or G.

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Scale on the fretboard

See the suggested scale mapped on the guitar neck. Switch between scale choices and focus on one position at a time if you want a more playable pattern view.

How to Choose the Right Scale for Any Chord

The fastest way to choose a scale is to look at the notes inside the chord. If the scale contains the important chord tones, your solo will sound connected to the music instead of like random scale practice.

For most guitar players, the best starting point is simple: major chords usually like major pentatonic, minor chords usually like minor pentatonic, and dominant 7 chords usually like mixolydian or blues-based ideas.

The goal is not to memorize every possible theory rule at once. Start with the safest sound, then add more color as your ears get stronger.

Common Scale Choices for Guitar

Major chords: major pentatonic, major scale, or relative minor pentatonic.

Minor chords: minor pentatonic, natural minor, blues scale, or dorian.

Dominant 7 chords: mixolydian for a clean fit, or minor pentatonic/blues scale for a classic blues-rock sound.

Major 7 chords: major scale or major pentatonic, with the major 7 note added carefully for color.

Scale Over Chord FAQ

What scale should I play over a major chord?

Major pentatonic is usually the safest first choice. The full major scale also works, but major pentatonic tends to sound musical faster because it avoids some notes that beginners often overuse.

What scale works over minor chords?

Minor pentatonic is the easiest and most guitar-friendly option. Natural minor gives you a fuller sound, while the blues scale adds a grittier rock/blues flavor.

Can I use pentatonic over any chord?

You can use pentatonic over many chords, but the type matters. Major pentatonic usually fits major chords, while minor pentatonic usually fits minor chords. Blues and rock players often bend those rules for tension.

What scale should I play over a dominant 7 chord?

Mixolydian is the classic theory answer because it contains the flat 7. For guitar, minor pentatonic and the blues scale are also extremely common over dominant 7 chords.

How should I type sharp, flat, minor, 7th, and sus chords?

Use the root first, then the chord type. Examples: F# for F sharp, Bb for B flat, Am for A minor, G7 for G dominant 7, Cmaj7 for C major 7, Dm7 for D minor 7, Dsus4 for D suspended 4, and Dsus2 for D suspended 2.

How do I know what scale fits a chord progression?

Start by finding the key or the main chord. If all the chords come from one key, one scale may work across the whole progression. If the chords change color strongly, you may want to target each chord as it arrives.

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