Day 9 - The Major Scale

A scale is a selection of notes within an octave. There are two major scales within music theory: the major scale and minor scale. The major scale is constructed with the formula “W, h”. “W” represents a whole step, and “h” represents a half-step. C Major consists of C, D E, F, G, A, B,C. The first note is C, which goes a whole step to D. From D, it goes another whole step to E. From E, it goes a half-step to F. From F it goes a whole step to G. From G, it goes another whole step to A. Finally, A takes a whole step to B, and from B it takes a half-step back to C.

Another major scale is Eb, or E flat. E flat consists of Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, D, and Eb. We begin with Eb, and then the first whole step goes to F. The second whole note takes us to G, and the half step from G takes us to Ab, not A. The next whole step takes us to Bb. From Bb, the whole step takes us to C, and from there, D. Finally, the half step returns to Eb. Eb has three flats, but both instances of Eb only count once.

The final and third major scale shown is D Major. D Major consists of D, E, F#, A, B, C#, and D. We start with D, then go a whole step to E, then another whole step to F#. The half step takes us to G, then the whole step takes us to A. From A, the whole step takes us to B. From B, the whole step takes us to C#, and then the half step returns to D. Notice that D major has two sharps.

Any major scale can be constructed, just start with the first note and follow the formula.