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The major scale – you’ve heard of it. We all have. But is it important? Well, only if you want to really understand what makes it all hang together music-wise! So let’s explore a bit about that.
Back in April of last year, I touched on the subject of the major scale, but now we will take a closer look at just what it is all about. Everyone has heard a major scale. It sounds like that song from The Sound of Music – “Doe, a deer, a female deer, Ray, a drop of golden sun”…..etc., etc. But did you know that so much in music depends on this little scale?
What exactly is a scale? A scale is a series of tones that are arranged in a specific order (actually it is a formula, as you will see in a minute). Each tone is one-half step. A good example is shown on the piano. Every key on the piano is a one-half step tone. We can also see this on the guitar: every fret is one-half step.
Now the math comes in! The formula for a major scale is:
Whole Step, Whole Step, Half Step, Whole Step, Whole Step, Whole Step, Half Step.
So what, you say? Well hang with me a bit longer!
Here’s the math part: Two half steps equal one whole step. That didn’t hurt too much, did it? Now you just have to remember that part for later!
A scale also consists of a musical alphabet, but don’t worry, it only has seven letters in it! The letters they consist of are A – B – C – D – E – F and G. Each scale will begin with one of the letters in the musical alphabet. Let’s take a look at a “C” scale.
The C scale would look like this: C – D – E – F – G – A – B – C.
There is a whole step between C and D which fits the formula. There is a whole step between D and E, but there is only half a step between E and F. This is very important – memorize this! F and G, G and A, and A and B are whole steps apart, so the formula is still working. It winds up with B and C which are half steps apart as well. So E and F and B and C are half steps apart. They are “next-door neighbors”.
Let’s take a look at a different scale – the “G” scale.
The G scale would look like this: G – A – B – C – D – E – F# – G.
Hey, where did that F# come from? To understand that, we need to look at the formula again.
Remember that E and F are next door neighbors? That becomes a problem if the formula calls for a whole step between E and F. In the G scale the formula calls for a whole step between E and F and a half step between F and G. The problem is solved by raising the F by half a step, making it an F#. This creates a whole step between E and F and a half step between F and G.
Every major scale is constructed using this formula and sharping or flatting the appropriate tones to fit the formula. Try it out for yourself. It’s really not hard at all!
The next blog will be about using the major scale to create chords. That’s the next step in understanding what a big role the major scale plays in music!
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