Layout Background
Wicki-Hayden is a classic isomorphic keyboard layout, used for centuries on accordions and concertinas. White notes are together, and the I-IV-V pattern (used in many, many songs) forms a compact triangle. Scales play linearly left-to-right with jumps for each semitone (like a piano). Whole-tone scales are linear. While simple chords are comfortable, more complex chords can be challenging. This is also the preferred layout for "jammer" instruments.
The video below demonstrates how to play scales and chords using the Wicki-Hayden layout in Musix Pro, available for iPhone and iPad. Keep reading to learn all the patterns for chords and scales using the Wicki-Hayden layout — in minutes!
Chords
All patterns and chords in the examples below are listed in the key of C. To play a chord or scale in a different key, use the same pattern, but start on the appropriate note. For example, to play a D major chord, take the pattern "shape" from the C major chord example, but center the shape around the note D.
Since the same note appears multiple times in most layouts, most chords and scales can be played in more than one way and with more than one pattern. The patterns presented here represent the more common, easier, or more compact pattern.
You can experiment with new patterns by changing which particular instance of the note is included in the pattern. For example, if the pattern includes an E4 note, find another E4 and update the pattern with that one instead. This flexibility allows users to develop their own preferred patterns for common chords and scales.
Download a PDF version of this information.
Triads
Major: C - E - G
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Minor: C - E♭ - G
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Augmented: C - E - A♭ *
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Diminished: C - E♭ - F♯
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Flat 5: C - E - F♯
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Sus4: C - F - G
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Larger Chords
7th: C - E - G - B♭
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Major 7th:C - E - G - B
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6th: C - E - G - A
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9th: C - E - G - B♭ - D
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11th: C - E - G - B♭ - D - F
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13th: C - E - G - B♭ - D - F - A
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Scales
Major Scale: C - D - E - F - G - A - B - C
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Minor Scale: C - D - E♭ - F - G - A♭ - B♭ - C
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Blues scale: C - E♭ - F - F♯ - G - B♭ - C
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Pentatonic: C - D - F - G - A - C
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Intervals
Minor second: C - C♯
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Major second: C - D
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Minor third: C - E♭
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Major third: C - E
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Perfect fourth: C - F
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Tritone / Diminished 5th / Augmented 4th: C - F♯
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Perfect fifth: C - G
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Minor sixth: C - A♭
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Major sixth: C - A
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Minor seventh: C - B♭
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Major seventh: C - B
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Perfect octave: C - C
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* NOTE: For those familiar with music theory, some of the accidentals in the examples above may be presented differently than would be correct for a particular key (e.g. F♯ instead of G♭). However, Musix Pro will show the correct accidental labels for your chosen key when you play.
Want to try this layout yourself? Download Musix Pro.
All Layouts
- Gerhard Layout | Download Gerhard Layout PDF
- Harmonic Layout | Download Harmonic Layout PDF
- Park Layout | Download Park Layout PDF
- Wicki-Hayden Layout | Download Wicki-Hayden Layouts PDF
- Maupin
- Janko
- C-System
- B-System
- Bajan
- LinnStrument
