Seat-of-the-Pants Music Theory: Build a Major Scale

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Lesson 4 – How to build a scale
OK, after all that talk about note names, sharps & flats, whole steps, and half steps, we’re FINALLY ready to build a major scale!  We are going to build a one octave scale meaning…

  • 8 notes in the scale (octave… octopus… octagon)
  • First and last note always the same name
  • The sequence of intervals from the first note is always
    1. Whole step
    2. Whole step
    3. Half step
    4. Whole step
    5. Whole step
    6. Whole step
    7. Half step

Build a C scale
First pick your starting note (also called a ‘root note’).  For our first example, let’s pick ‘C’ as our starting note.

diagram partial C Scale (C only)

The second note of the scale has to be a whole step higher than the first note (C).  So, the question becomes, ‘what note is a whole step up from C?’  In previous lessons, we learned that ‘D’ is a whole step up from ‘C’.diagram partial C Scale (CD)

The third note of the scale has to be a whole step higher than the second note (D).  What note is a whole step up from D?  Referring again to the previous lessons, ‘E’ is a whole step up from ‘D’diagram partial C Scale (CDE)

The fourth note of the scale is a bit different.  The fourth note must be only a half step higher than the third note (E).  What note is a half step up from E?  Previous lessons show that ‘F’ is a half step up from ‘E’.diagram partial C Scale (CDEF)

The fifth note of the scale has to be a whole step higher than the fourth (F).  What note is a whole step up from F?  If you said ‘G’, you got it!diagram partial C Scale (CDEFG)

The sixth note of the scale has to be a whole step higher than the fifth (G).  What note is a whole step up from G? If you said ‘A’, you got it!diagram partial C Scale (CDEFGA )

The seventh note of the scale has to be a whole step higher than the sixth (A).  What note is a whole step up from A? If you said ‘B’, you got it!diagram partial C Scale (CDEFGAB)

The eighth note of the scale is also a bit different.  The eighth note must be only a half step higher than the seventh note (B).  What note is a half step up from B?  If you said ‘C’, you got it!  We now have a complete scale of 8 notes;  this is referred to as an octave.  Notice the eighth note is the same as the first.  The first and the last notes of a scale will always be the same letter.  If not, you messed up!diagram complete C Scale (CDEFGABC)

Take a look at this completed C scale and you’ll see that it meets the guidelines laid out in the first paragraph:

  • 8 notes in the scale
  • First and last note are indeed the same name
  • The sequence of intervals from the first note is
    1. Whole step
    2. Whole step
    3. Half step
    4. Whole step
    5. Whole step
    6. Whole step
    7. Half step

Make a chant out of this sequence:  starting note, 2 wholes and a half, 3 wholes and a half.  It helps me remember what sequence of whole steps and half steps I need to use.

Build a G scale
Now let’s build another scale.  This time, let’s pick G as our starting point.diagram partial G Scale (G only)

The second note of the scale has to be a whole step higher than the first note (G).  So, the question becomes, ‘what note is a whole step up from G?’  In previous lessons, we learned that ‘A’ is a whole step up from ‘G’.diagram partial G Scale (GA)

The third note of the scale has to be a whole step higher than the second note (A).  What note is a whole step up from A?  Referring again to the previous lessons, ‘B’ is a whole step up from ‘A’diagram partial G Scale (GAB)

Again, the fourth note of the scale is a bit different.  The fourth note must be only a half step higher than the third note (B).  What note is a half step up from B?  Previous lessons show that ‘C’ is a half step up from ‘B’.diagram partial G Scale (GABC)

The fifth note of the scale has to be a whole step higher than the fourth (C).  What note is a whole step up from C?  If you said ‘D’, you got it!diagram partial G Scale (GABCD)

The sixth note of the scale has to be a whole step higher than the fifth (D).  What note is a whole step up from D? If you said ‘E’, you got it!diagram partial G Scale (GABCDE)

The seventh note of the scale has to be a whole step higher than the sixth (E).  What note is a whole step up from E? If you said ‘F#’, you got it!diagram partial G Scale (GABCDEF#)

The eighth note of the scale is also a bit different.  The eighth note must be only a half step higher than the seventh note (F#).  What note is a half step up from F#?  If you said ‘G’, you got it! diagram complete G Scale (GABCDEF#G)

Build your own scales exercise

This time, you get to build your own scales.  Build all four of these scales: D, A, E, and B.  Don’t peek until you finish then scroll down and check yourself against my Answer Chart at the very bottom of the page.  If you had trouble with any of them, go back and evaluate your choices using the chant I mentioned above:  starting note, 2 wholes and a half, 3 wholes and a half.

Did you notice that all the scales I have discussed so far use only sharps?  Stay tuned for my next Seat-of-the-Pants Music Theory lesson and I will discuss scales that use flats.

 

 

Answer Chart for Build Your Own Scales exercise

D Scale

D

E

F#

G

A

B

C#

D
A Scale

A

B

C#

D

E

F#

G#

A
E Scale

E

F#

G#

A

B

C#

D#

E
B Scale

B

C#

D#

E

F#

G#

A#

B