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2. MAJOR SCALE
The major scale consists of seven notes out of the twelve chromatic pitches, where each of the 7 letters are used. Since there are 12 different chromatic notes, there can be, and are, 12 different Major Scales. The easiest to work with is the C Major Scales since it does not have any sharps or flats in it. The notes in the C Major Scales are C, D, E, F, G, A, & B.
What is vital to understanding how to “build” the other 11 major scales is to know the sequence of whole and half steps that separate the individual notes in the major scale:
C to D: D is a whole step above C
D to E: E is a whole step above D
E to F: F is a half step above E
F to G: G is a whole step above F
G to A: A is a whole step above G
A to B: B is a whole above A.
The intervals between each note and the tonic are defined below:
Major 2nd – M2 – the distance of the 2nd degree in the major scale
from the tonic = 1 whole step\2 half steps
Major 3rd – M3 – the distance of the 3rd degree in the major scale
from the tonic = 2 whole steps\4 half steps
Perfect 4th – P4 – the distance of the 4th degree in the major scale
from the tonic = 5 half steps
Perfect 5th – P5 – the distance of the 5th degree in the major scale
from the tonic = 7 half steps
Major 6th – M6 – the distance of the 6th degree in the major scale
from the tonic = 9 half steps
Major 7th – M7 – the distance of the 7th degree in the major scale
from the tonic = 11 half steps
And to complete the major scale by going the distance of an octave back to C:
B to C: C is a half step above B.
Using “W” to stand for Whole Step, and “H” for Half Step, this sequence of whole and half steps can be expressed in the following formula: WWHWWWH. Using this formula you can build a major scale on any of the 12 chromatic notes. Note - Key Sign. stands for Key Signature. Below is a table of the 12 major scales including the 3 keys with enharmonic equivalents (C#=Db, Cb=B, F#=Gb):
Key
Key Tonic M2nd M3rd P4th P5th M6th M7th Sign. A A B C# D E F# G# 3#’s Bb Bb C D Eb F G A 2 b’s
B B C# D# E F# G# A# 5 #’s
Cb Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Ab Bb 7 b’s
C C D E F G A B 0
C# C# D# E# F# G# A# B# 7#’s Db Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C 4 b’s
D D E F# G A B C# 2 #’s
Eb Eb F G Ab Bb C D 3 b’s
E E F# G# A B C# D# 4 #’s
F F G A Bb C D E 1 b
F# F# G# A# B C# D# E# 6 #’s
Gb Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F 6 b’s
G G A B C D E F# 1 #
Ab Ab Bb C Db Eb F G 4 b’s
Note: because of the WWHWWWH formula the enharmonic keys (Cb \ B, C# \ Db, F# \ Gb) results in odd notes such as E# (=F), Cb (=B), Fb (=E), & B# (=C). This is necessary so that each letter is used only once, and to follow the above mentioned formula.
…or expressed in ascending 5th’s for the sharp keys:
Key
Key Tonic M2nd M3rd P4th P5th M6th M7th Sign.
1. C C D E F G A B
2. G G A B C D E F# 1 #
3. D D E F# G A B C# 2 #’s
4. A A B C# D E F# G# 3 #’s
5. E E F# G# A B C# D# 4 #’s
6. B B C# D# E F# G# A# 5 #’s
7. F# F# G# A# B C# D# E# 6 #’s
C# C# D# E# F# G# A# B# 7 #’s
…or expressed in descending 5th’s for the flat keys:
Key
Key Tonic M2nd M3rd P4th P5th M6th M7th Sign.
C C D E F G A B
8. F F G A Bb C D E 1 b
9. Bb Bb C D Eb F G A 2 b’s
10.Eb Eb F G Ab Bb C D 3 b’s
11.Ab Ab Bb C Db Eb F G 4 b’s
12.Db Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C 4 b’s
Gb Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F 6 b’s
Cb Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Ab Bb 7 b’s
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