# Scales Lexicon — Essential Practice Tool

> Musical scale reference and practice tool with audio, notation, and transposition. (iPhone/iPad app by Patrick Q. Kelly.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scales-lexicon/id418528535 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Patrick Q. Kelly](https://appshunter.io/developer/310068987)
- Category: Music, Education
- Price: $2.99
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 5 App Store ratings · 14 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 15.0 · 40 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2011-02-10
- Data updated: 2026-06-10
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scales-lexicon/id418528535/reviews.md

## What is Scales Lexicon?

Over 100 scales notated and played for you, including note names and melodic intervals. Transposition for instruments in Ab, Eb, Bb, F, C, G, D, A, and E. Play along! Create a pdf of the notation and piano key markings for sharing or printing. Listen and watch the notes or piano keys highlight as it plays.

Transpose with a touch, to any root, in treble, alto, tenor or bass clef. See the scale notated correctly, with double sharps and flats as needed. For example, Gb minor has a B double flat, not an A. 
Have the scale played in a wide variety of ways. 
• Choose from 11 rhythmic patterns. 
• Choose 1, 2 or 3 octaves. 
• Loop continuously, or play just once through. 
• Select the space between each loop.
• Choose if you want the scale played forward and backward (up and down), or just forward.
• Includes an optional 2 or 4 beat count-off. 

Included scales:
• Common: 
Major
Natural Minor
Harmonic Minor
Melodic Minor - Up & Down
Whole-Half Diminished
Half-Whole Diminished
Whole-tone
Chromatic

• Modes: 
Ionian
Dorian
Phrygian
Lydian
Mixolydian
Aeolian
Locrian

• Jazz: 
Major Pentatonic
Minor Pentatonic
Blues
Blues Modified
Blues Phrygian
Blues Diminished
Bebop
Bebop Major
Bebop Dominant
Bebop Minor
Bebop Minor 2
Harmonic Major
Phrygian Dominant
Lydian Dominant (Overtone)
Lydian Augmented
Augmented
Half Diminished 1
Half Diminished 2
Diminished Whole Tone
6th Mode of Harmonic Minor
Neapolitan Major
Neapolitan Minor
Harmonic Neapolitan Minor
Prometheus

• Hindustani Thaats: 
Bilawal
Kalyan
Khamaj
Bhairav
Poorvi
Marwa
Kafi
Asavari
Bhairavi
Todi

• World: 
Algerian
Arabian
Byzantine
Hawaiian
Hindu
Hungarian or Egyptian
Indian
Indian Minor
Jewish or Spanish
Oriental
Persian
Romanian Bocovia
Romanian Major
Romanian Minor

• China: 
Bi Yu
Chaio
Kung
Youlan

• Japan: 
Han-kumoi
Hira-joshi
Honchoshi Plagal Form
Iwato
Kokin-joshi, Miyakobushi
Nohkan
Ritsu
Sakura Pentatonic
Sansagari
Taishikicho, Ryo

• Composers: 
Prokofiev
Scriabin
Shostakovich
Verdi Enigmatic
Verdi Enigmatic - Up & Down

• Messiaen Modes: 
Mode 1 - Whole Tone
Mode 2 - Half-Whole Diminished
Mode 3
Mode 3 Inverse
Mode 4
Mode 4 Inverse
Mode 5
Mode 5 Inverse
Mode 6
Mode 6 Inverse
Mode 7
Mode 7 Inverse
Truncated Mode 2
Truncated Mode 3
Truncated Mode 3 Inverse
Truncated Mode 5
Truncated Mode 5 Inverse
Truncated Mode 6
Truncated Mode 6 Inverse

## Key features

- Over 100 musical scales
- Audio playback with visual note highlighting
- Transposition for multiple instruments and clefs
- Customizable rhythmic patterns and octaves
- PDF export of notation
- Forward and backward scale playback

## Recent user reviews (10 of 14)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scales-lexicon/id418528535/reviews.md

### 5/5 — A Useful App, But …

*2022-07-03*

This is a very useful app. But it would be a “great” app if it included some scale arpeggios for each scale. Now that would make it the ultimate scale practice tool!

### 5/5 — Wow!

*2018-12-03, version 5.0*

Really cool app - really good to explore with.
One small request: the slide down tool has all scales; could you only have say just the jazz scales at your finger tips rather than having to trawl through everything to find what you want?
I.e, could you be given the choice of which group of scales you want to explore via a simple set-up ?

Thanks again for the great work.

### 2/5 — Only shows one octave,Author can’t be contacted

*2018-06-09, version 5.0*

The description is misleading. It says you can choose a range, but the app only ever displays one octave. This would be fine for piano, but for brass instruments the fingering is different up the octave so it’s next to useless unless you stop playing halfway through and select the next octave, which is fiddly, then you have to do the same coming down. I didn’t want to write a negative review, but the authors contact section on his website is faulty - it won’t let you send a message without completing a captcha, which isn’t displayed. I tried on two different platforms. So for me, a waste of money and no support.

### 5/5 — Very helpful!

*2015-01-23*

This app is helping me learn better intonation in my upright bass studies. Thanks so much!!!!!

### 5/5 — Nice app for learning scales

*2014-12-13*

Returning to trumpet using app to learn scales and transposing also.

### 4/5 — Great app!

*2014-07-12, version 2.1*

Really helpful for learning scales. It would be great if arpeggios could be included in the next update.

### 5/5 — Superb!

*2013-08-17*

Finally! The perfect scale app! Very thoughtfully and simply organized user interface. Not loaded with special features. But hard to imagine finding a better delivery system.  i will use this to workout on both, piano and bass.

### 3/5 — So SO

*2013-05-08*

Lots of scales - yes. Problems too. The staff display shows only one scale up in range and no scale down. When a greater range is selected the display still only shows one scale. It would be nice to see the notes above or below the staff. Also the choice between sharps and flats sometimes seems a little arbitrary. As a bass clef player, I am used to seeing flats rather than sharps. In some of the modes where the root is in flats, the program chooses to use sharps. An optional choice would be nice.

### 5/5 — Great app!

*2013-05-02*

I use it to practice bass scales too!

### 4/5 — Great app! Key Signatures?

*2011-12-09*

This is a very nice app. I see this as a great tool for teaching as well as personal practicing. I think adding a key signature feature to the scales that have conventional ones would make this app fantastic!

## Frequently asked questions about Scales Lexicon

### What musical scales does Scales Lexicon include?

Scales Lexicon includes over 100 scales, categorized into Common, Modes, Jazz, Hindustani Thaats, World, Chinese, Japanese, Composer-specific, and Messiaen Modes. This extensive library covers a wide range of musical traditions and styles.

### Can I transpose scales in Scales Lexicon?

Yes, Scales Lexicon allows transposition to any root note for instruments in Ab, Eb, Bb, F, C, G, D, A, and E. You can also select treble, alto, tenor, or bass clef for accurate notation.

### How does Scales Lexicon help with practicing scales?

Scales Lexicon provides audio playback of scales with visual feedback, highlighting notes and piano keys as they play. You can choose from 11 rhythmic patterns, loop continuously or play once, and select the space between loops.

### Can I share or print the notation from Scales Lexicon?

Yes, you can create a PDF of the scale notation, including piano key markings, for easy sharing or printing. This feature is useful for offline study or for sharing with others.

### What devices is Scales Lexicon available on?

Scales Lexicon is currently available for iPad. It is designed to take advantage of the larger screen size for a better user experience.

### How often is Scales Lexicon updated?

Scales Lexicon was last updated on November 28, 2022, with version 6.0. The app was originally released on February 10, 2011, indicating a history of ongoing development and support.

### What is the age rating for Scales Lexicon?

Scales Lexicon has an age rating of 4+. This suggests it is suitable for a wide range of users, including younger learners interested in music.

### Does Scales Lexicon have ads?

No, Scales Lexicon does not contain advertisements. As a paid application, it offers an uninterrupted user experience focused solely on its musical features.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 6.0 — 2022-11-28

Bug fixes and other essential updates.

### 5.1 — 2019-02-04

Loop transpositions, bug fixes and other essential updates.

### 5.0 — 2016-05-16

Numerous updates and improvements.

### 4.0 — 2014-10-30

Updated user interface. 
Create pdf files to print, email or save.  
Other added features and overall performance improvements.

### 2.1 — 2012-06-28

Greatly improved sound playback. 
Transposing Instrument can now easily play along! Support for instruments in Ab, Eb, Bb, F, C, G, D, A, and E. 
Added an optional 2 or 4 beat click intro to help play along as well.
Improved graphics as well as Retina display support. 
Additional scales including basic 10 Hindustani Thaats.

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## More apps by Patrick Q. Kelly

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All apps by Patrick Q. Kelly: https://appshunter.io/developer/310068987

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*