  
Introduction
to major scales
The music with which we are the most familiar is based almost entirely
on two diatonic modes--major and minor. Music based on these scales
has been commonly used in Western music since the seventeenth century
and includes such widely divergent styles as the music of Bach,
Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Wagner, the Beatles, and Madonna.
Listen to the following melody written and played in the major
mode. Then listen to the same melody written and played in the minor
mode.
5
Design
and construction of major scales
The major scale is represented
by the white keys of the piano that span the octave from C to C.
Note there are half steps between pitches 3 and 4 and between pitches
7 and 8. All other steps are whole steps. This is the pattern for
all major scales.


With this half step and whole step pattern kept consistent, the
major scale can be transposed (moved) to all the remaining eleven
pitches of the octave. For each transposition, accidentals (sharps
or flats) must be added to maintain the correct diatonic pattern. It
is also important to know that the half steps in a major scale must
be diatonic, not chromatic. In other words, all seven letter names
must be used in a diatonic (in this case, major) scale. Letter names
cannot be repeated.
Look at the following A major scale. It uses the same pattern
of half and whole steps as the C major scale above. This is accomplished
by using accidentals and some black keys on the keyboard.


  
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