โ Elementary ยท Lesson 3 of 4The C major scale.
Building Major Scales
Learn the pattern of whole steps and half steps in a major scale. ยท 15 min
The major-scale pattern
A major scale contains seven different note names before reaching the octave.
Its interval pattern is whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half.
In C major, the notes are C, D, E, F, G, A, B and C. The scale uses only white keys when played from C to the next C.
Tap the keys. Highlighted: C4, D4, E4, F4, G4, A4, B4, C5.
Tonic and octave
The first note of a scale is called the tonic. In C major, C is the tonic.
The eighth note repeats the first note name at a higher pitch. The distance between these notes is an octave.
Practise slowly upward and downward, keeping an even rhythm.
Check yourself
You'll see immediately whether each answer is right, and why.
Building Major Scales quiz1 / 3
Which pattern forms a major scale?