Major Scale Construction

The Major Scale Formulae

Constructing The C Major Scale

constructing a major scale

constructing a major scale

The major scale is made up of a sequence of whole

step and half step intervals

major scale formulae

root to 2nd =whole step2nd to 3rd =whole step3rdto 4th =half step4th to 5th =whole step 5th to 6th =whole step6th to 7th =whole step7th to root =half step

major scale formulaewhole stepwhole stephalf stepwhole step whole stepwhole stephalf step

constructing the C major scale

The root note of C

C

rise a whole step to the 2nd note

C

the 2nd = D

C D

rise a whole step to the 3rd note

C D

the 3rd = E

C D E

rise a half step to the 4th note

C D E

the 4th = F

C D E F

rise a whole step to the 5th note

C D E F G

the 5th = G

C D E F G

rise a whole step to the 6th note

C D E F G

the 6th note = A

C D E F G A

rise a whole step to the 7th note

C D E F G A

The 7th note = B

C D E F G A B

rise a half step to the root

C D E F G A B

we are back to C again

C D E F G A B C

checklist for scale construction

• Letter names (A to G) appear in alphabetic sequence

• Each letter name appears only once (apart from the root note which is found on the first and last note of each scale)

• Keys contain either #’s or b’s (never both)

Constructing Other Major Scales

C D E F G A B C

If we can use the formulae above to create a major scale starting from a note of C then

we can use it to construct more major scales starting

from other notes?

The G Major Scale

G

The G Major Scale

G A B C D E F# G

The F Major Scale

F

The F Major Scale

F G A Bb C D E F

The D Major Scale

D

The D Major Scale

D E F# G A B C# D

The Bb Major Scale

Bb

The Bb Major Scale

Bb C D Eb F G A Bb

constructing the C major scale

constructing a major scale