Major scale

In music theory, the major scale (or major mode) is one of the diatonic scales. It is often considered to be made up of eight notes (seven plus the octave), divided into two groups of four, the tetrachords. The pattern of steps in each tetrachord is, in ascending order:

Related Topics:
Music theory - Diatonic scale

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

: tone, tone, semitone, (tone)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The major scale has eight notes (an octave), which in solfege are the syllables "Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Si, and Do." At the piano keyboard, the simplest major scale is C major (see figure 1). It is unique in that it is the only major scale to use only the white notes on the keyboard and, likewise, no sharps or flats on the musical staff.

Related Topics:
Octave - Solfege - Piano keyboard - Sharp - Flat - Musical staff

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Figure 1. The C major scale

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

to the C major scale.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

When writing out major (and minor scales), every line and space on the stave has to be filled, and no note can have more than one accidental. This has the effect of forcing the key signature to feature just sharps or just flats; ordinary major scales never include both.

Related Topics:
Minor scale - Stave - Accidental - Key signature

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The major scale is the same as the Ionian mode.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~