# Major scale

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Musical scale comprising seven notes

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Major scale Component pitches C, D, E, F, G, A, B Qualities Number of pitch classes 7 Maximal evenness Forte number 7–35 Complement 5–35

Major scales beginning with white keys

A **major scale** is a sequence of [musical notes](/source/Musical_note) containing a [major triad](/source/Major_triad) on the [tonic](/source/Tonic_(music)).

Most commonly, the term "major scale" refers to the **natural major scale** (or [Ionian mode](/source/Ionian_mode)), which is one of the most commonly used [musical scales](/source/Scale_(music)), especially in [Western music](/source/Western_culture#Music). It is one of the [diatonic scales](/source/Diatonic_scale). Like many musical scales, it is made up of seven [notes](/source/Musical_note): the eighth duplicates the first at double its [frequency](/source/Frequency) so that it is called a higher [octave](/source/Octave) of the same note (from Latin "octavus", the eighth). The notes C–D–E–F–G–A–B form a prototypical major scale.

Some lesser-used scales are also sometimes called major scales, such as the **harmonic major scale**, the **melodic major scale**, and the [Lydian](/source/Lydian_mode) and [Mixolydian](/source/Mixolydian_mode) diatonic modes.

## Natural major scale

The natural major scale is the diatonic [Ionian mode](/source/Ionian_mode).

The simplest major scale to [write](/source/Musical_notation#Modern_musical_notation) is [C major](/source/C_major), the only major scale not requiring [sharps](/source/Sharp_(music)) or [flats](/source/Flat_(music)). It can be played on the white keys of the piano:

Audio playback is not supported in your browser. You can [download the audio file](https://upload.wikimedia.org/score/t/8/t81ujrl8h48ng4hxhuvektgna9buhxi/t81ujrl8.mp3).

The major scale has a central importance in Western music, particularly that of the [common practice period](/source/Common_practice_period) and in [popular music](/source/Popular_music).

In [Carnatic music](/source/Carnatic_music), it is known as *[Sankarabharanam](/source/Sankarabharanam_(raga))*. In [Hindustani classical music](/source/Hindustani_classical_music), it is known as *[Bilaval](/source/Bilaval)*.

The pattern of whole and half steps characteristic of a major scale

The sequence of [intervals](/source/Interval_(music)) between the notes of a major scale is:

- whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half

where "whole" stands for a [whole tone](/source/Major_second) (a red u-shaped curve in the figure), and "half" stands for a [semitone](/source/Semitone) (a red angled line in the figure).[1]

[Whole steps](/source/Major_second) and [half steps](/source/Semitones) are explained mathematically in a related article, [Twelfth root of two](/source/Twelfth_root_of_two). Notably, in terms of the sound frequency ratio in [equal temperament](/source/Equal_temperament), a whole tone has twice the sound frequency ratio of a semitone and an [octave](/source/Octave) has twelve half steps (semitones) spaced equally. The sound frequency doubles for corresponding notes from one octave to the next. The ratio is 3/2 = 1.5 for a [perfect fifth](/source/Perfect_fifth), for example from C to G on a major scale, and 5/4 = 1.25 for a [major third](/source/Major_third), for example from C to E.

A major scale may be seen as two identical [tetrachords](/source/Tetrachord) separated by a whole tone. Each tetrachord consists of two whole tones followed by a [semitone](/source/Semitone) (i.e. whole, whole, half).

The major scale is [maximally even](/source/Maximal_evenness).

### Scale degrees

Audio playback is not supported in your browser. You can [download the audio file](https://upload.wikimedia.org/score/n/q/nqcld1m87txwqbsuxzjetu8v1dur002/nqcld1m8.mp3).

The [scale degrees](/source/Degree_(music)) are named:

- 1st: [Tonic](/source/Tonic_(music))

- 2nd: [Supertonic](/source/Supertonic)

- 3rd: [Mediant](/source/Mediant)

- 4th: [Subdominant](/source/Subdominant)

- 5th: [Dominant](/source/Dominant_(music))

- 6th: [Submediant](/source/Submediant)

- 7th: [Leading tone](/source/Leading-tone)

- 8th: [Tonic](/source/Tonic_(music))

### Harmony

Audio playback is not supported in your browser. You can [download the audio file](https://upload.wikimedia.org/score/j/0/j0yygkiwrvbtce408mpyuwphlbztnkv/j0yygkiw.mp3).

The triads built on each scale degree follow a distinct pattern. The [roman numeral analysis](/source/Roman_numeral_analysis) is shown in parentheses.

- 1st: [major triad](/source/Major_triad) (I)

- 2nd: [minor triad](/source/Minor_triad) (ii)

- 3rd: minor triad (iii)

- 4th: major triad (IV)

- 5th: major triad (V)

- 6th: minor triad (vi)

- 7th: [diminished triad](/source/Diminished_triad) (viio)

Audio playback is not supported in your browser. You can [download the audio file](https://upload.wikimedia.org/score/r/e/rebucedkul7r3kuq808lsih5yytc5ks/rebucedk.mp3).

The seventh chords built on each scale degree follow a distinct pattern. The [roman numeral analysis](/source/Roman_numeral_analysis) is shown in parentheses.

- 1st: [major seventh chord](/source/Major_seventh_chord) (IM7)

- 2nd: [minor seventh chord](/source/Minor_seventh_chord) (ii7)

- 3rd: minor seventh chord (iii7)

- 4th: major seventh chord (IVM7)

- 5th: [dominant seventh chord](/source/Dominant_seventh_chord) (V7)

- 6th: minor seventh chord (vi7)

- 7th: [half-diminished seventh chord](/source/Half-diminished_seventh_chord) (viiø7)

## Relationship to major keys

If a piece of music (or part of a piece of music) is in a [major key](/source/Major_key), then the notes in the corresponding major scale are considered *diatonic* notes, while the notes *outside* the major scale are considered [*chromatic* notes](/source/Chromaticism). Moreover, the [key signature](/source/Key_signature) of the piece of music (or section) will generally reflect the [accidentals](/source/Accidental_(music)) in the corresponding major scale.

For instance, if a piece of music is in E♭ major, then the seven pitches in the E♭ major scale (E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C and D) are considered diatonic pitches, and the other five pitches (E♮, F♯/G♭, A♮, B♮, and C♯/D♭) are considered chromatic pitches. In this case, the key signature will have three flats (B♭, E♭, and A♭).

The figure below shows all 12 relative major and minor keys, with major keys on the outside and minor keys on the inside arranged around the [circle of fifths](/source/Circle_of_fifths).

v t e Diatonic scales and keys No. Flats Sharps Major minor Major minor 0 C a C a 1 F d G e 2 B♭ g D b 3 E♭ c A f♯ 4 A♭ f E c♯ 5 D♭ b♭ B g♯ 6 G♭ e♭ F♯ d♯ 7 C♭ a♭ C♯ a♯ 8 F♭ d♭ G♯ e♯

The numbers inside the circle show the number of sharps or flats in the key signature, with the sharp keys going clockwise, and the flat keys counterclockwise from C major (which has no sharps or flats.) The circular arrangement depends on [enharmonic](/source/Enharmonic) relationships in the circle, usually reckoned at six sharps or flats for the major keys of F♯ = G♭ and D♯ = E♭ for minor keys.[2] Seven sharps or flats make major keys (C♯ major or C♭ major) that may be more conveniently spelled with five flats or sharps (as D♭ major or B major).

## Broader sense

Like the [minor scale](/source/Minor_scale) has natural minor scale, harmonic minor scale, and melodic minor scale, the major scale also has natural major scale, harmonic major scale, and melodic major scale. In the harmonic (major or minor) scale, the 6th tone to the 7th tone is an [augmented second](/source/Augmented_second), and in the melodic (major or minor) scale, the ascending and descending are different: the ascending is raised by one semitone than the descending.

Scales with a major tonic triad are often referred to as major. Besides the Ionian mode, there are two more major diatonic modes: the [Lydian mode](/source/Lydian_mode) and the [Mixolydian mode](/source/Mixolydian_mode).[3][4]: 314

The [harmonic major scale](/source/Harmonic_major_scale)[5][6] has a minor sixth. It differs from the [harmonic minor scale](/source/Harmonic_minor_scale) only by raising the third degree.

Audio playback is not supported in your browser. You can [download the audio file](https://upload.wikimedia.org/score/4/q/4qh8jwr2m0wqzzkc2beq405eri4tgdh/4qh8jwr2.mp3).

The melodic major scale is the combined scale that goes as Ionian ascending and as [Aeolian dominant](/source/Aeolian_dominant_scale) descending. It differs from [melodic minor scale](/source/Melodic_minor_scale) only by raising the third degree to a major third.[7]

Audio playback is not supported in your browser. You can [download the audio file](https://upload.wikimedia.org/score/k/i/ki4f82zs5iibon37y1xnlx6hrszc8n8/ki4f82zs.mp3).

The [double harmonic major scale](/source/Double_harmonic_major_scale)[8] has a minor second and a minor sixth. It is the fifth mode of the [Hungarian minor scale](/source/Hungarian_minor_scale).

Audio playback is not supported in your browser. You can [download the audio file](https://upload.wikimedia.org/score/n/j/njff73b6kpgy4rvco36fy5fcc1seq6r/njff73b6.mp3).

Gapped scales can also be considered incomplete major or minor scales. The [pentatonic scale](/source/Pentatonic_scale) can appear in a major guise.[9]

## Other notations and usage

When expressing the names of major scale keys as abbreviations, the alphabet of the corresponding tonic note name can be written in upper case to indicate only the tonic note name. For example, when expressing the English notation of [C major](/source/C_major), It can be abbreviated as '**[C](/source/C_major)**'. Plus, when expressing the names of [minor scale](/source/Minor_scale) keys as abbreviations, the Roman alphabet of the corresponding tonic note is sometimes lower case to indicate only the tonic note name. For example, when expressing the English notation of [A minor](/source/A_minor), It is abbreviated as '**[a](/source/A_minor)**'.[10]

## See also

- [Ionian mode](/source/Ionian_mode)

- [Major and minor](/source/Major_and_minor)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Major scale | music"](https://www.britannica.com/art/major-scale).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Drabkin_2-0)** Drabkin, William (2001). "Circle of Fifths". In [Sadie, Stanley](/source/Stanley_Sadie); [Tyrrell, John](/source/John_Tyrrell_(professor_of_music)) (eds.). *The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians* (2nd ed.). London: Macmillan Publishers.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** de Clercq, Trevor. *The Practice of Popular Music: Understanding Harmony, Rhythm, Melody, and Form in Commercial Songwriting*. Taylor & Francis, 2024. 334.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Prout_4-0)** [Prout, Ebenezer](/source/Ebenezer_Prout). *[Harmony: Its Theory and Practice](https://www.google.com/books/edition/Harmony/JoC0AAAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA81)*. London: Augener, 1903.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Rimsky-Korsakov, Nikolai (2005). *Practical Manual of Harmony*. Carl Fischer, LLC. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-8258-5699-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8258-5699-0).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Tymoczko, Dmitri (2011). "Chapter 4". *A Geometry of Music*. New York: Oxford.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Musicstudents.com - Free Sheet Music and Play-Along Soundfiles"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140311205933/http://www.musicstudents.com/archive01/093.html). Archived from [the original](http://www.musicstudents.com/archive01/093.html) on 2014-03-11. Retrieved 2014-03-13.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Stetina, Troy (1999). *The Ultimate Scale Book*. Hal Leonard. p. 59. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7935-9788-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7935-9788-9).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Benward, Bruce and Marilyn Nadine Saker. *[Music: In Theory and Practice](https://archive.org/details/musicintheorypra0000benw_s4e5/page/40/mode/1up)*, vol. I. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2003. 40f.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["StackExchange - Questions - Capitalization of key names (C Minor vs. c minor)"](https://music.stackexchange.com/questions/877/capitalization-of-key-names-c-minor-vs-c-minor). Sep 2024.

## Further reading

- Bower, Michael (2007). ["All about Key Signatures"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100311182612/http://www.empire.k12.ca.us/capistrano/mike/capmusic/key%20signatures/key_signatures.htm). Modesto, CA: Capistrano School (K–12) website. Archived from [the original](http://www.empire.k12.ca.us/capistrano/Mike/capmusic/Key%20Signatures/key_signatures.htm) on 11 March 2010. Retrieved 17 March 2010.

- Jones, George Thaddeus (1974). [*Music Theory: The Fundamental Concepts of Tonal Music Including Notation, Terminology, and Harmony*](https://archive.org/details/musictheory00jone). Barnes & Noble Outline Series 137. New York: [Barnes & Noble](/source/Barnes_%26_Noble). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780064601375](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780064601375).

- Kennedy, Michael (1994). "Key-Signature". In Bourne, Joyce (ed.). *Oxford Dictionary of Music* (2nd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-19-869162-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-19-869162-9).

- Yamaguchi, Masaya (2006). *The Complete Thesaurus of Musical Scales* (Revised ed.). New York: Masaya Music Services. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-9676353-0-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-9676353-0-6).

## External links

- [Listen to and download harmonised Major scale piano MP3s](http://www.youraccompanist.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=62&Itemid=104)

- [Major scales explained on a virtual piano](https://www.apronus.com/music/lessons/major-scales)

- [Interactive Piano Reference to Major Scales](https://muted.io/major-minor-scales/)

- [History of the Major Scale](https://musiktheorie.volker-schubert.org/History%20of%20the%20Major%20Scale.html)

- ["Secrets of Major Keys You Need to Know"](https://www.mindfulharmony.app/learn/secrets-of-major), Sebastian Karika, *Mindful Harmony*.

v t e Diatonic scales and keys No. Flats Sharps Major minor Major minor 0 C a C a 1 F d G e 2 B♭ g D b 3 E♭ c A f♯ 4 A♭ f E c♯ 5 D♭ b♭ B g♯ 6 G♭ e♭ F♯ d♯ 7 C♭ a♭ C♯ a♯ 8 F♭ d♭ G♯ e♯

v t e Musical scales (list) Main Western Major Natural Harmonic Melodic Ascending Descending Minor Natural Harmonic Melodic Ascending Descending Pentatonic Diatonic Chromatic Other types Bebop Blues Diminished scale Distance model Double harmonic Enharmonic Enigmatic Flamenco mode Harmonic Jazz Jazz minor Major Locrian Phrygian dominant Ptolemy's intense diatonic Scale of harmonics Symmetric Synthetic mode Synthetic scale Whole tone Ethnic origin Algerian Arabic Double harmonic Major Locrian Quarter tone 17 equal temperament Brazil Escala nordestina Gamelan Pelog Slendro Gypsy Hungarian major Hungarian minor Istrian Japanese Jewish nusach Neapolitan Persian Romanian major Ukrainian Dorian Non-octave Wendy Carlos scales: Alpha, Beta, Gamma Bohlen–Pierce Modes v t e Modes in Western music Gregorian Authentic Dorian Phrygian Lydian Mixolydian Plagal Hypodorian Hypophrygian Hypolydian Hypomixolydian Other Ionian Hypoionian Aeolian Hypoaeolian Locrian Hypolocrian Pentatonic Reciting tone Diatonic Heptatonia prima Ionian (I) (natural major and ascending melodic major) Dorian (II) Phrygian (III) Lydian (IV) Mixolydian (V) Aeolian (VI) (natural minor and descending melodic minor) Locrian (VII) Jazz minor Heptatonia secunda Jazz minor (I) (ascending melodic minor) Dorian ♭2 (II) Lydian augmented (III) Acoustic (IV) Aeolian dominant (V) (descending melodic major) Half diminished (VI) Altered (VII) Neapolitan major Heptatonia tertia Neapolitan major (I) Leading whole tone (II) Lydian augmented dominant (III) Lydian minor (IV) Major Locrian (V) Neapolitan Minor Neapolitan minor (I) Mixolydian augmented (III) Harmonic minor Harmonic minor (I) Ukrainian Dorian (IV) Phrygian dominant (V) Lydian ♯9 (VI) Harmonic major Harmonic major (I) Dorian-Locrian (II) Neapolitan Mixolydian (V) Double harmonic scale Double harmonic (I) Hungarian minor (IV) Oriental (V) Number of tones Monotonic (1) Ditonic (2) Tritonic (3) Tetratonic (4) Pentatonic (5) Hexatonic (6) Heptatonic (7) Octatonic (8) Decatonic (10) Chromatic (12)

v t e Modes in Western music Gregorian Authentic Dorian Phrygian Lydian Mixolydian Plagal Hypodorian Hypophrygian Hypolydian Hypomixolydian Other Ionian Hypoionian Aeolian Hypoaeolian Locrian Hypolocrian Pentatonic Reciting tone Diatonic Heptatonia prima Ionian (I) (natural major and ascending melodic major) Dorian (II) Phrygian (III) Lydian (IV) Mixolydian (V) Aeolian (VI) (natural minor and descending melodic minor) Locrian (VII) Jazz minor Heptatonia secunda Jazz minor (I) (ascending melodic minor) Dorian ♭2 (II) Lydian augmented (III) Acoustic (IV) Aeolian dominant (V) (descending melodic major) Half diminished (VI) Altered (VII) Neapolitan major Heptatonia tertia Neapolitan major (I) Leading whole tone (II) Lydian augmented dominant (III) Lydian minor (IV) Major Locrian (V) Neapolitan Minor Neapolitan minor (I) Mixolydian augmented (III) Harmonic minor Harmonic minor (I) Ukrainian Dorian (IV) Phrygian dominant (V) Lydian ♯9 (VI) Harmonic major Harmonic major (I) Dorian-Locrian (II) Neapolitan Mixolydian (V) Double harmonic scale Double harmonic (I) Hungarian minor (IV) Oriental (V)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Major scale](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_scale) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_scale?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.