Major Scale Construction
The Major Scale Formulae
Constructing The C Major Scale
constructing a major scale
constructing a major scale
The major scale is made up of
a sequence of whole step and
half step intervals
major scale formulae
root to 2nd
=whole step
2nd to 3rd
=whole step
3rdto 4th =half step
4th to 5th =whole step
5th to 6th =whole step
6th to 7th =whole step
7th to root =half step
major scale formulae
whole step
whole step
half step
whole step
whole step
whole step
half step
constructing the C major scale
The root note of C
C
rise a whole step to the
note
C
nd
2
the 2nd = D
C
D
rise a whole step to the 3rd
note
C
D
the 3rd = E
C
D
E
rise a half step to the 4th note
C
D
E
the 4th = F
C
D
E
F
rise a whole step to the
note
C
D
E
F
G
th
5
the 5th = G
C
D
E
F
G
rise a whole step to the
note
C
D
E
F
G
th
6
the 6th note = A
C
D
E
F
G
A
rise a whole step to the
note
C
D
E
F
G
A
th
7
The 7th note = B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
rise a half step to the root
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
we are back to C again
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
checklist for scale
construction
• Letter names (A to G) appear in
alphabetic sequence
• Each letter name appears only once
(apart from the root note which is found
on the first and last note of each scale)
• Keys contain either #’s or b’s (never
both)
Constructing Other Major
Scales
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
If we can use the formulae above
to create a major scale starting
from a note of C then we can use
it to construct more major scales
starting from other notes?
The G Major Scale
G
The G Major Scale
G
A
B
C
D
E
F#
G
The F Major Scale
F
The F Major Scale
F
G
A
Bb
C
D
E
F
The D Major Scale
D
The D Major Scale
D
E
F#
G
A
B
C#
D
The Bb Major Scale
Bb
The Bb Major Scale
Bb
C
D
Eb
F
G
A
Bb
constructing the C major scale
constructing a major scale