Major scales are one of the most important concepts in music theory. They provide the framework for countless melodies and harmonies, and understanding them is key to unlocking your musical potential.
A scale is a sequence of musical notes arranged in order of pitch, either ascending (going up) or descending (going down). Think of it like a ladder of notes that musicians use to create melodies and build chords.
Major scales are a specific type of scale characterized by a bright, "happy" sound. They consist of seven different notes plus an eighth note which is an octave repeat of the first.
Key Idea:
Scales provide the raw material for music, much like the alphabet provides the letters for words.
Question: What is the 3rd note in a D Major scale?
(Hint: Start on D and apply the T-T-S-T-T-T-S formula.)
Show Answer
D (start) + Tone = E (2nd note), E + Tone = F♯ (3rd note). So the answer is F♯!
Lesson Summary
- A scale is an ordered sequence of notes.
- Major scales have a "happy" sound and are built using a specific pattern of Tones (Whole Steps) and Semitones (Half Steps).
- The major scale formula is: Tone – Tone – Semitone – Tone – Tone – Tone – Semitone (T-T-S-T-T-T-S or W-W-H-W-W-W-H).
- C Major is the simplest major scale, using only white keys on the piano (C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C).
- Building major scales on other notes often requires sharps (#) or flats (♭) to maintain the formula.
- Major scales can be understood as two identical tetrachords (T-T-S) joined by a Tone.