Wednesday, April 30, 2014

The major scale

A scale is a series of notes with a specific relationship among them. Each scale can be written with the help of a formula. The formula tells the distance between the notes. The first note is called the root note and the name of the scale is derived the first note itself.
Let's see the formula for the major scale. It is W W H W W W H.
W represents a gap of whole step (2 frets on guitar or a major second interval)
H represents a gap of half step (1 fret on guitar or a minor second interval)

So if we want to write the C major scale, here is how we can do it.

The first note will be of course C.
The next note which is whole step above C is D. So the next note will be D.
The next note which is whole step above D is E. So the next note will be E.
The next note which is half step above E is F. So the next note will be F.
The next note which is whole step above F is G. So the next note will be G.
The next note which is whole step above G is A. So the next note will be A.
The next note which is whole step above A is B. So the next note will be B.
The next note which is half step above B is C. So the next note will be C again.
This cycle repeats.
So the notes in C major scale are C D E F G A and B.
There are in total seven notes in a major scale. Each major scale has seven notes.
Now can you write the G major scale?
Check your answer with this: G A B C D E F# 

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