Major scales are the simplest scales to learn. In this topic we're going to mention 12 major scales. In music, major scales can be built from a recurring pattern. Lets have a look at the C Major scale:
This scale begins and ends on the root note of C. The root of a scale is similar to the key of a scale. In this case it is C.
To figure out what the pattern of a Major scale is, we will need to decode the interval between each note.
An interval is the distance between 2 notes. Intervals can be measured in steps or tones. A step or tone is a distance of 2 keys on the piano. For example, D is 2 keys to the right of C on the piano when we count both white and black keys. So, we can say that the interval between these 2 notes(C and D) is
1 step or
2 half-steps or
1 tone or
2 semi-tones. Note that all of those are equal in value. For the remainder of this topic we'll be referring to intervals in terms of tones and semi-tones.
The distances between each of the notes of the C Major scale are as follows:
C -> D = 2 Semi-Tones
D -> E = 2 Semi-Tones
E -> F = 1 Semi-Tone
F -> G = 2 Semi-Tones
G -> A = 2 Semi-Tones
A -> B = 2 Semi-Tones
B -> C = 1 Semi-Tone
Note: 2 Semi-Tones = 1 Tone
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So now we can use this "pattern" to find other major scales. The pattern would be:
In terms of semitones:
2 2 1 2 2 2 1
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Be sure to recognize that there isn't a black key for every white key on a piano. If you'd like a better explanation as to why, check out our topic on
Enharmonics and Diatonics.
Another thing that you should be familiar with is something that is called accidentals:
# -> sharps make a note a half step or semitone higher
b -> flats make a note a half step or semitone lower
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Now that we've covered the basics, here's the 12 Major scales that we told you about at the beginning of this topic. I used the pattern mentioned to figure them out:
C Major Scale -> C D E F G A B
D Major Scale -> D E F# G A B C#
E Major Scale -> E F# G# A B C# D#
F Major Scale -> F G A Bb C D E
G Major Scale -> G A B C D E F#
A Major Scale -> A B C# D E F# G#
B Major Scale -> B C# D# E F# G# A#
C# Major Scale -> C# D# E# F# G# A# B#
Eb Major Scale -> Eb F G Ab Bb C D
F# Major Scale -> F# G# A# B C# D# E#
Ab Major Scale -> Ab Bb C Db Eb F G
Bb Major Scale -> Bb C D Eb F G A
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