Major and Minor Scales

A scale (Latin scāla, “ladder”) is an ordered collection of pitches used as the basis for a musical composition. In theory, we generally write scales in ascending form within the span of one octave. In practice, we may encounter them in either ascending or descending forms, spanning anywhere from fragments to multiple octaves. Western music has traditionally relied on heptatonic (seven-note) scales. Of these, the most commonly encountered in the Common Practice Era are the major and minor scales.

Major Scale

The major scale consists of a pattern of whole steps and half steps in the following ascending sequence: W–W–H–W–W–W–H. Example 1 below shows a major scale built on C4. Whole steps are labeled using slurs and “W”s while half steps are labeled using “H”s and angled brackets.

Ascending major scale starting on C4
Example 1. Major scale starting on C4.

Natural Minor Scale

Harmonic Minor Scale

Melodic Minor Scale