Avoid notes for modes of the major scale
Scale degree Chord Mode Avoid note Available tensions
1 Cmaj7 Ionian Fourth scale step, F 9, 13
2 Dm7 Dorian Sixth scale step, B 9, 11
3 Em7 Phrygian Second and sixth scale steps, F and C 11
4 Fmaj7 Lydian No avoid note 9, ♯11, 13
5 G7 Mixolydian Fourth scale step, C 9, 13
6 Am7 Aeolian Sixth scale step, F 9, 11
7 Bø7 Locrian Second scale step, C 11, ♭13
Avoid notes for modes of the melodic minor scale
Scale degree Chord Mode Avoid note Available tensions
No avoid
1 CmΔ Ionian, ♭3 9, 11, 13
note
No avoid
2 Dm7 Dorian, ♭2 11, 13
notes
Sixth scale
3 E♭augΔ Lydian #5 9, ♯11
step, C
No avoid
4 F7 Lydian, ♭7 9, ♯11, 13
note
Fourth step
5 G7 Mixolydian ♭6 9, 11
C
No avoid
6 Am7/♭5 Locrian, ♯2 9, 11, ♭13
note
No avoid (usually played as
7 Bm7/♭5 Super Locrian
note altered dominant)
Avoid notes for modes of the Harmonic minor scale
Available
Scale degree Chord Mode Avoid note
tensions
Harmonic No avoid
1 CmΔ 9, 11, 13
minor note
Mixolydian Second scale
5 G7 #5 b9 11, 13
b2 b6 step, E♭
Note: The Symmetrical, whole-tone and the diminished scales have no avoid notes.