MAJOR SCALE CONSTRUCTION

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There are three basic sounds in music. They are major, minor and dominant. To over simplify, many think of the the major sound as being a happy sound. Minor has a sad sound and the dominant sound is one that has a tendency to want to resolve to one of the other two.

A better way to look at the major scale is as the foundational building block of popular harmony. There is much more to the major scale than the scale itself. Within this scale is contained a dizzying variety of harmony; chords, scales and musical ideas.

Scales are constructed from a series of whole steps and half steps. In western music, we use a twelve tone scale, meaning that each octave is divided into twelve even subdivisions. The distance from one of these subdivisions (notes) to the next is refered to as a “half step” while the distance between two is a “whole step.”

For the purpose of this lesson, we are primarily concerned with the major scale. All scales are made up of a series of whole steps and half steps. The major scale follows this pattern of half steps and whole steps: Root Note (whole step) 2nd. (whole step) 3rd. (half step) 4th. (whole step) 5th. (whole step) 6th (whole step) 7th. (half step) root note or octave.

This scale may be played from any note. For the scale to be major, all that is necessary is that the whole step (W), (W), half (H), (W), (W), (W), (H) pattern be followed. Remember this pattern! The first note tells us which major scale we are playing. So, if for example, the first note is “C” the scale is “C Major.” Begun on “Ab” the scale is Ab Major and so on. When the pattern is begun on a note that has a Sharp or Flat, the type of scale (major) is not effected. “Flat” and “sharp” refer only to note names and have nothing to do with the type of scale we are playing. The scale type is determined by the arrangement of whole steps and half steps.

		C Major Scale
		This is a “C major” scale written on standard, five line, manuscript. The note names are provided for those who don’t already read music. (However, learning the note names takes very little effort so now would be a good time to learn them.) Notice the naturally occurring half steps between “E” and “F,” and also between “B” and “C.” Since these half steps are conveniently located just where we need them, “C major” has no sharps (which would raise the note by one half step) or flats (which would lower the note by a half step).

Other Major Scales:

When a major scale is begun on any note other than C, it is necessary to add either sharps or flats to maintain the W,W,H,W,W,W,H step arrangement. Let's look at D major. The distance from E to F is only a half step, but it needs to be a whole step in order to follow the major scale step pattern. So, F becomes F# making F# to G the necessary half step between the third and fourth notes of the scale. The same situation occurs between the sixth and seventh notes of the scale. From B to C is only a half step. The C# provides the necessary whole step there and the half step back to D.

		While this is a “D” scale, this scale is not D Major. The arrangement of whole steps and half steps is wrong. Below, the D Major scale is written using the proper arrangement: W,W,H,W,W,W,H

What is a Key?

Some major scales require the use of sharps to provide the W, W, H, W, W, W, H pattern. Others require flats. Regardless, if the arrangement of notes follows this pattern, The scale is major. The is the concept behind a “key.” A key refers to the sharps or flats used to construct a given scale. Using our examples, we have seen that the “key” of C major has no sharps or flats and that the key of D major has two sharps, F# and C#. To know what notes make up a given key, write out the scale following the W, W, H, W, W, W, H step pattern starting on the root note of the key. For example, to find out what notes make up the key of A, start on A. Whatever notes are used to make up the major scale also make up the key. We call the resulting group of sharps or flats the key’s “signature.” All twelve major keys use different sharps and flats and, therefore, each has it’s own “key signature.” There are twelve major keys.

Major Scale and Key Exercise:

To best understand major scales and keys, write them. On manuscript paper, write all twelve major scales (keys). The scale is written correctly below. Don’t give up. Once understood, these provide the foundation for all the concepts presented later.

(Before getting started, here are some things to keep in mind. First, don’t mix sharps and flats. Major keys use only sharps or only flats. Also, don’t use the same note more than once. For example, if a scale has F, it won’t also have F#. If the scale uses Bb, it will not also have B. If the starting note is a sharp or flat, this changes nothing. The construction is the same. Just follow the W, W, H, W, W, W, H pattern. Some scales start on ledger lines. Others start in the staff and end with ledger lines. It makes no difference to the construction of the scale. Put sharp or flat signs right before the note as in the example D major.)

	The 12 Major Scales: