Major Scale

Written by Angel Sanchez

The Major scale is immensely popular among musicians and probably the first scale learned to play.  It is even possible that you might have had sang this scale if you once tried to imitate an opera singer singing: "Do-Re-Mi-Fa-So-La-ti-Do..."

Theory Behind the Major Scale

What makes a major scale major are the specific intervals between the notes of the scale.  An interval is the distance bewteen two musical notes, also known as degrees.  Major scales are considered to produce happy, cheerful, and pleasant intervals.

Every major scale uses the same intervals as follows: W - W - H - W - W - W - H; where the letter "W" stands for whole step (2 frets apart), and the letter "H" stands for half step (1 fret apart).

The following table widens the interval analysis of the Major Scale by presenting these in terms of half steps needed to reach the next note in the scale.  For example, to reach the second degree starting from the tonic, the guitarist will need to move two half steps (or frets) up.  To reach the fourth degree from the third degree, you will need to move one step (or fret) up; and so on so forth until the scale is complete.

Graphical Representation of the Major Scale

Here's the musical representation of the C Major Scale on the music staff, using solely an octave (eight intervals) range.

That same C Major scale can then be transposed to the Fretboard's first position as follows.  Where the red dots correspond to the root or tonic note, in this case the note of "C".