Which Jazz Scales Should I Play Over Chords?

If you want to play improvised solos in jazz, you need to know which scales to play from.

In this article I’ll show you the different scales you can play for each type of 7th chord.

Major 7 Scales

The major 7 chord is built from the major scale’s root, 3rd, 5th, and 7th. That means it has a root, a major 3rd (E), 5th (G), and a major 7th (B).

This means that any scales you play need to agree on these four notes (‘the chord tones’) - otherwise your scale will clash.

Scales you can play over C major 7:

All of the above scales ‘work’ over C major 7 because they fit with the chord’s root, 3rd, 5th, and 7th - C E G B.

The major 7 scales above can also be played over a C major 6 chord (C E G A) - which is practically the same chord, it just has a 6th instead of the 7th.

Minor 7 Scales

The minor 7 chord is built from minor scale’s root, 3rd, 5th, and 7th. That means it has a root, a minor 3rd (Eb), 5th (G), and a minor 7th (Bb).

Any scale you play over a minor 7 chord needs to agree on these four chord tones - otherwise your scale will clash.

Scales you can play over C minor 7:

All of the above scales sound good over C minor 7 because they fit with the chord’s root, 3rd, 5th, and 7th - C Eb G Bb.

Want to download my top improvisation lines for jazz piano? I’ve put together some free sheet music that notates my favorite lines for a ii-V-I.
Click hereto download the Jazz Tutorial Improvisation Cheat Sheet (free).

Dominant 7 Scales

Dominant 7 chords have the most options when it comes to jazz scales, and jazz musicians will play lots of altered notes over V7 chords - like the b9, #9, #11, b13.

The dominant 7 chord (written ‘V7’) is built from the 5th note of the major scale (so G7 is built from the notes of C major scale). That means it has a root, major 3rd (E), 5th (G), and minor 7th (Bb).

Any scale you play over a V7 chord needs to agree on these four chord tones - otherwise it will clash with the chord.

Scales you can play over C7:

IMAGE - altered scale lick in action over Dø - G7 - Cm7

IMAGE - diminished scale lick in action over Dø - G7 - Cm7

IMAGE - C hybrid blues scale over C7

The hybrid blues scale creates a warm, yet bluesy type of sound. It has two blue notes in it (Eb and Gb), and you can use these as grace notes to precede either of their surrounding notes (D and E, or F and G).

All of the above scales ‘work’ over C7 because they fit with the chord’s root, 3rd, 5th, and 7th - C E G Bb.

Half-Diminished Scales

The half-diminished chord (written ‘’, or ‘C min 7 b5’) is a minor 7 chord with a flat 5. You’ll encounter it as the ii chord of a minor ii-V-I (e.g. Dø - G7 - Cm7).

Scales you can play over (C Eb Gb Bb):

Both scales work over because they match the chord’s ‘chord tones’ - C Eb Gb Bb.

TIP: If you find half-diminished chords intimidating - you can simplify the scale you use and just play from the four chord tones (C, Eb, Gb, Bb). Most half-diminished chords only last two beats anyway (or occasionally four beats) - so you don’t necessarily need a 7 note scale to play from.

Diminished 7 Scales

The diminished 7 chord (written ‘Co7’) is a stack of minor 3rds. C diminished 7 = C Eb Gb Bbb (A). Diminished 7 chords are somewhat rare, and they’re usually only played for two beats.

Scales you can play over Co7 (C Eb Gb A):

IMAGE - diminished scale over C dim 7 - C D Eb F Gb Ab A B

IMPORTANT: Note that there are two types of diminished scale - both scales follow an alternating half-step / whole-step pattern. However one starts with a half-step (and then a whole-step) - whereas the other starts with whole-step (and then half-step).

Earlier we looked at the diminished scale played over a V7 chord - which is different. For V7 chords you would play the ‘half-step - whole-step diminished scale’ (C Db Eb E F# G A Bb).

But for diminished 7 chords - you would play the ‘whole-step - half-step diminished scale’ (C D Eb F Gb Ab A B).

The way I remember the diminished scale (for dim 7 chords) is to find the chord’s chord tones first (1 3 5 7). Then add a whole-step above each note.

Now if you find the diminished scale too intimidating - you can always reduce the notes you play from down to the four chord tones (C, Eb, Gb, A).

Want to download my top improvisation lines for jazz piano? I’ve put together some free sheet music that notates my favorite lines for a ii-V-I.
Click hereto download the Jazz Tutorial Improvisation Cheat Sheet (free).

Minor-major 7 Scales

Finally, let’s look at the minor-major 7 chord (written ‘C-Δ’).The minor-major 7 chord is a minor chord with a major 7 - so C min Δ = C Eb G B.

Scales you can play over C min Δ (C Eb G B):

This scale works over C min Δ because it fits with the chord’s chord tones (1 3 5 7) - C Eb G B.

You can also play the melodic minor scale over minor 6 chords (C min 6 = C Eb G A) - again because the scale matches with the chord’s notes.

Practice Tip

Play each of the chords we’ve looked at (one at a time) in your left hand. In your right hand, play up and down the scales that I’ve outlined (or at least choose one scale that you like best).

Next, choose a song in your real book and play through the chords in your left hand. In your right hand, play up and down the correct scale (this will train you to build these scales from a range of notes).

The Improvisation Cheat Sheet

I’ve notated some of my favorite improvised lines to demonstrate these techniques in action. Add these lines to your playing, and use them to get fresh ideas and inspiration.
Click here to download the Jazz Tutorial Improvisation cheat sheet (free).


Free Sheet Music

Can I send you 39 pages of Jazz Piano sheet music?

  • Includes '29 Jazz Licks' (sheet music)

  • 'The Chord Voicing Guide' (ebook)

  • 'Sweet Chord Progressions and Riffs' (sheet music)

Send me this


About the Author

Julian Bradley is a Jazz pianist and music educator from the U.K. He has a masters degree in music composition and loves helping musicians learn Jazz piano and reach their music goals. YouTube channel.