Major Scale - Lesson 1

Ref: Guitar Lesson World

The major scale is an important scale. It contains a repeating pattern of seven notes at specified intervals of whole and half steps. Numbers are often used to designate the degree of the scale in the repeating pattern.  The degrees are given in numbers or roman numerals (as shown).

Each major scale is related to a major key.  For example, the key of C (major) corresponds to the C Major Scale.  When indicating a major key, you can omit the word major.  It is assumed.  The key of C is the simplest key to learn the scale because it contains no accidentals (no sharps or flats).  You can play the C Major Scale below in open position.

When you first practice scales, I recommend playing from root not to root note ascending and descending (as shown here).  The notes, in order, are C – D – E – F – G – A -B – C – B -A -G -F – E – D – C.

Chord Relationships

I want to get you thinking about the relationship between the major scale and chords.  The notes of a chord can be derived from the major scale.  Start at a degree and play every other note.  For example, you can form a C Major chord by playing C-E-G.  Similarly, you can form a D minor chord, by playing D-F-A.  The C chord is the I chord.  The D chord is the ii chord.  The degrees of the scale (roman numerals) are used to specify chord progressions.  A ii-V-I means you would play a D minor, G Major, C Major in order.  Also, notice that lower-case numerals indicate minor chords

Two Ways to Form a Major Scale

I want to show you how to form an F Major scale because it uses an accidental.  Scales are always spelled in alphabetic note order.  So the F Major scale would be spelled as F-G-A-B-C-D-E.  The problem is that this is not a major scale.  It is actually the Lydian Mode.  To make it a major scale, we need to fix the intervals with accidentals.  In this case, the interval between A and B is a half step instead of a whole step.  Therefore, we need to flat the B.  Now you have F-G-A-Bb-C-D-E, the F Major Scale.

It is important that you never use the same letter twice. Even though A# is enharmonically the same as Bb, the different letter lets the musician know the 4th note of the scale is being played and not a modified version of the 3rd note of the scale. This convention is helpful when musicians communicate.

Spelling the Major Scale by Key

Another way to form the scale is to learn/memorize the number of sharps and flats in the key.  For example, the Key of F is known to have one flat, Bb.  Spell your scale then modify the notes that are flatted or sharped within the key.

Major Key Signatures (Sharps)

Major Key Signatures (Flats)

Spelling the Major Scale by Whole/Half Steps

To make sure you know how to form the scale, I provided a step-by-step.

1. Start with the root note for the key you are using. In the key of F, your root is F.
2. Follow the interval formula for a major scale (W-W-H-W-W-W-H).
   1. A whole step up from F is G.
   2. A whole step up from G is A.
   3. A half step up from A is Bb. To maintain a half step, we must use accidentals.  In this case it is a flat.
   4. A whole step up from Bb is C.
   5. A whole step up from C is D.
   6. A whole step up from D is E.
   7. A half step up from E is F. E to F is naturally a half step.

F Major Scale on the 6th String

You can also play the scale on a string.  I think this is one of the best ways to learn the step-pattern.  Play the pattern below, then repeat it from frets 13 to the end of your fretboard if you have access to them.  Play it ascending and descending.  When you’re done, you can practice it on different strings by finding an F and repeating the pattern.