The Major Scale

The major scale is a very important tool for understanding harmony and melody.

It's great for ear training, finger patterns, key signatures, intervals, chord construction and etc.

Let's make sure we know how to play and understand it correctly.

T/S Formula for the major scale.

This is the simplest formula for a major scale:

         T T S T T T S

T= tone S=semitone
[ A semitone is 1 fret, a tone is 2 frets]

For example, if our starting note is F
we play up a T which is G
we play up a T from G which is A
we play up a S from A which is Bb
we play up a T from Bb which is C
we play up a T from C which is D
we play up a T from D which is E
we play up a S from E which is F

Here's another way of looking at it:

F G A Bb C D E F
 T T S  T T T S

Applying this info to the guitar:

-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
-1---3---5---6---8---10---12---13--
   T   T   S   T   T    T    S

The above tab is an F major scale on one string to show the T/S relationships.

Interval Formula for the major scale.

You can also create a major scale if you know your intervals.

The interval formula for the major scale is:
P1 M2 M3 P4 P5 M6 M7 P8

P1 = Root (R) or starting note
M2 = up 2 semitones from the Root
M3 = up 4 semitones from the Root
P4 = up 5 semitones from the Root
P5 = up 7 semitones from the Root
M6 = up 9 semitones from the Root
M7 = up 11 semitones from the Root
P8 = up 12 semitones from the Root

Here's some popular ways of fingering major scales of one octave:

"6 string Root" major scale with suggested fingering:

--|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|--
--|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|--
--|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|--
--|---|-1-|---|-3-|-4-|---|---|--
--|---|-1-|-2-|---|-4-|---|---|--
--|---|---|-2-|---|-4-|---|---|--

This is the same scale labeled with the interval names:

--|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|--
--|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|--
--|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|--
--|---|-6-|---|-7-|-R-|---|---|--
--|---|-3-|-4-|---|-5-|---|---|--
--|---|---|-R-|---|-2-|---|---|--

"5 string Root" major scale with suggested fingering:

--|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|--
--|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|--
--|---|-1-|---|-3-|-4-|---|---|--
--|---|-1-|-2-|---|-4-|---|---|--
--|---|---|-2-|---|-4-|---|---|--
--|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|--

This is the same scale labeled with the interval names:

--|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|--
--|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|--
--|---|-6-|---|-7-|-R-|---|---|--
--|---|-3-|-4-|---|-5-|---|---|--
--|---|---|-R-|---|-2-|---|---|--
--|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|--

There are many more ways of playing a major scale, the above fingerings are just to get you started on the right track.

How to properly name each note in the scale.

When naming all the notes in the major scale, you should use all 7 different letter names.

The best way to create a major scale is to start with all the natural notes first:
ie. A B C D E F G A
Then apply the T/S formula

     A B C D E F G A
      T T S T T T S

We have to make some changes in order for it to be a major scale. Our scale needs a T between B and C.
How do we do that?
We sharpen the C to C#. This works out great because C# is a S to D. We find that we have to sharpen F to make it a T away from E. We also have to sharpen G to make it a tone away from F#. Here's what we get -

     A B C# D E F# G# A 
      T T  S T T  T  S

You'll find that you'll need to add accidentals to all scales except C. Also know that a major scale either has #'s in it or b's, but never both. If you find that you made a major scale with both #'s and b's in it - you did something wrong.

Now, test yourself on major scales with Scale Quiz #1 - Major.

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