The Major Scale
The Major Scale is the “D.N.A.” of western music. When we listen to a song, all of the notes we hear in the melody, and chords typically come from some form of the major scale. The major scale is created by sequencing whole-steps and half-steps in a specific formula until we reach the octave again the and sequence begins again.
The formula for a Major Scale is:
Whole-Step, Whole Step, Half-Step, Whole-Step, Whole-Step, Whole-Step.
By starting on any of our 12 notes (called the root of the scale) and following this formula, we can find the notes in any major scale. Observe the C Major Scale below with the whole-steps and half-steps. You will notice that when starting with the root note “C” we create a major scale that contains all 7 notes with no sharps or flats. Every major scale must contain one of every note, and only the root can be duplicated in the scale.
The C Major Scale is created by starting on the Root Note of “C” and following the major scale formula of Whole-Steps (W) and Half-Steps (H). Notice the distance between each note on the tablature staff.
Scale Degrees and Intervals in the Major Scale
Each of the 7 notes that make up the Major Scale is called a Scale Degree, this is indicated by its interval number and placement in the scale. For example, in a C major scale, the note “D” would be the Major 2nd of the scale, because it is the second note in the scale. The note “E” would be the Major 3rd as its distance away from the root is the same distance as two whole-steps, and it is the third note from the scale. This continues throughout the scale, as seen in the diagram below.
The C Major Scale listed in both Intervals and Scale Degrees.
Other Major Scales - Adding Sharps and Flats
Below, you will see the G Major Scale, as we are starting on a different root note, the notes in the G major scale will be different from the notes in the C Major Scale. If we start on the root note of G, and follow our major scale formula, we get the notes G, A, B, C, D, E, F#, and return to G to complete the scale.
Notice that the major scale formula required us to have a whole-step between the 6th and 7th scale degrees, so the F# was added to fit this formula. Every major scale will have a unique set of notes because of this formula.
The G Major Scale listed in both Intervals and Scale Degrees. Note the F# on the 7th scale degree.
Major Scales will either use sharps or flats to fit the major scale formula, but not both. This is how we label some scales as “sharp” scales or “flat” scales. In the
Below, you will see the F Major Scale, as we are starting on a different root note, the notes in the F major scale will be different from the notes in both the G major and C Major Scale. If we start on the root note of F, and follow our major scale formula, we get the notes F, G, A, Bb, C, D, E, and return to F to complete the scale.
The F Major Scale listed in both Intervals and Scale Degrees. Note the Bb on the 4th scale degree.
Notice that the major scale formula required us to have a half-step between the 3rd and 4th scale degrees, so the Bb was added to fit this formula. It would be incorrect to use the note “A#” in this case because every major scale needs to have one of every note, and can not have both “A” and “A#” in the same scale.
