The Major Scale
The major scale is the foundation of nearly all Western music. Learn its formula, its seven scale degrees, and build one in any key — then hear it on the interactive piano below.
What is the major scale?
A scale is simply an ordered set of notes. The major scale is a specific seven-note pattern that sounds bright, resolved, and "happy" to most ears. If you've ever sung Do–Re–Mi–Fa–Sol–La–Ti–Do, you've sung a major scale. Once you know the pattern, you can build it starting on any of the twelve notes.
The major scale formula
Every major scale is built from the same sequence of whole steps (W) and half steps (H). On a piano, a half step is the very next key (white or black); a whole step skips one key. On guitar, a half step is one fret and a whole step is two.
That's W–W–H–W–W–W–H. Start on your chosen note (the tonic), then move up by each step in turn. After the seventh step you arrive back at the tonic, one octave higher.
How to build a major scale in any key
Let's build G major by hand. Start on G and apply W–W–H–W–W–W–H:
- G → whole step → A
- A → whole step → B
- B → half step → C
- C → whole step → D
- D → whole step → E
- E → whole step → F♯
- F♯ → half step → G (octave)
So G major is G A B C D E F♯ — one sharp. Try selecting G in the Scale Explorer above to see and hear it. Every major key follows this exact recipe; only the starting note changes.
The seven scale degrees
Each note in the scale has a number (1–7) and a traditional name. These names describe each note's musical role and show up everywhere in theory, from chord building to songwriting.
| Degree | Name | In C major | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | C | Home base — everything resolves here |
| 2 | Supertonic | D | One step above the tonic |
| 3 | Mediant | E | Sets the major (happy) quality |
| 4 | Subdominant | F | Pulls gently away from home |
| 5 | Dominant | G | Strong tension that wants to resolve |
| 6 | Submediant | A | The relative minor's home |
| 7 | Leading tone | B | Leans hard back up to the tonic |
Why it matters
The major scale isn't just an exercise — it's the measuring stick for the rest of music theory. Chords are built by stacking scale notes, keys are named after their major scale, and intervals are described relative to it. Master this one pattern and everything downstream gets easier.
Common questions
What is the major scale formula?
Whole–Whole–Half–Whole–Whole–Whole–Half (W–W–H–W–W–W–H). A whole step is two frets or two piano keys; a half step is one. Starting on any note and following that pattern produces the major scale in that key.
What are the notes of the C major scale?
C, D, E, F, G, A, B, and back to C — all the white keys on a piano, which is what makes C major the easiest scale to learn.
How is a major scale different from a minor scale?
They use different step patterns. The natural minor scale is W–H–W–W–H–W–W, which lowers the 3rd, 6th, and 7th degrees compared to major. That flattened 3rd is the main reason minor sounds darker or sadder.
Do I need to memorize every major scale?
Not at first. Memorize the W–W–H–W–W–W–H pattern and the circle of fifths, and you can derive any major scale on demand. With practice, the common keys become automatic.
See it on your instrument
Melody Monkey visualizes this scale on a live guitar, bass, ukulele, or piano — in any key, instantly.
Open the chord & scale library →Still stuck? Ask Your Personal Music Teacher about The Major Scale →