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Lesson 13 - Major Scale |
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I. Index1. Introduction II. Content1. IntroductionIn this lesson, you will learn about the major scale. The major scale is used to create most of the popular songs you hear on the radio today as well as many pieces of classical music.2. Playing the Major Scale Starting on CSince there are 12 different key names on the piano keyboard, there are 12 possible major scales. Let's first look at a major scale that starts on C, called a C major scale. The C major scale is the easiest major scale to play since it is made up of only white keys.Below are the notes of the C major scale. C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C Below is an animation of the C major scale being played. 3. Other Names for Notes of the Major ScaleBesides naming the notes of the major scale by letter names (i.e. C, D, E, F, G, A, B), you can name the notes based on its position in the major scale. This is useful when talking about major scales in general - not just about the C major scale specifically. For example, the first note of a major scale can be represented by the Roman numeral (I). It can be called the Root and also the Tonic. Below are a list and an illustration for alternative note names for the major scale.I_________Root_________Tonic 4. Understanding How the Major Scale is ConstructedThe major scale is made up of whole steps and half steps. A half step is any two notes with no notes between them. A whole step is any two notes with one note between them. Take a look at the illustration below of the C major scale and notice where the half steps and whole steps are located. The keys of the piano keyboard in the illustration below have been spread out in order for you to easily see where the half steps and whole steps are located.The whole steps are located between C/D, D/E, F/G, G/A, and A/B. The half steps are located between E/F, and B/C. You can use this pattern of whole steps and half steps to find the major scale on all 12 keys. Below is a list of the major scale starting on all 12 keys. A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G#, A Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G, A, Bb B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A#, B C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C, Db D, E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, D, Eb E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D#, E F, G, A, Bb, C, D, E, F F#, G#, A#, B, C#, D#, E#, F# G, A, B, C, D, E, F#, G Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, G, Ab 5. How Does the Major Scale Apply to SongsA majority of popular songs as well as classical tunes are written in the major scale. When a song is written in a major scale, most if not all of its melody notes as well as harmony chord notes come from that scale.6. ConclusionThe major scale can be used to create a majority of the popular songs you hear on the radio. What gives the major scale its identity is its pattern of whole steps and half steps. In this lesson, you reviewed the C major scale. There is a major scale for each of the 12 keys.Custom Search
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Music Theory for Beginners
Lesson 12 |
Lesson 13 |
Lesson 14 |
Lesson 14 - Intervals
A music interval is the distance between the two notes in music. The smallest interval in Western music is a Half Step, or Half-tone (Semi-tone)
Lesson 15 Chords of Major Scale |
Lesson 16 Circle of Fifths |
How To Read Music |
Lesson 12 - 12 Keys In Music
Learn Piano Keys Layout | | | Piano Key Names |
Lesson 13 Major Scale
Learn how Major Scale is built, and learn how to play Major Scale in the key of C in the video below:
Formula of Major Scale is: |
R, W, W, H, W, W, W, H |
(R = Root Note, W = Whole Step, H = Half Step) |
Notes in the Key of C are: |
C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C |
Click below to watch how to play major scale in different keys
Watch Lesson 15 - Chords of the Major Scale with Flash demos in the video below: |
Lesson 15 -
Chords of the Major Scale
Here you will learn about Chords that are built on any Major Scale
Lesson 16 -
Circle of Fifths
The circle of fifths diagram is very useful for music improvisation and it also helps to identify the three primary chords in a song
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List of 50 Free Lessons
Piano Basics Lesson 1 - Patterns of Piano Keyboard Lesson 2 - Names of White Keys Lesson 3 - Names of Black Keys Lesson 4 - Grand Staff Lesson 5 - Note Durations |
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Beginner Piano Lesson 6 - Brother John Lesson 7 - London Bridge Is Falling Down Lesson 8 - Twinkle Twinkle Little Star |
Lesson 9 - Major Chord |
FIND any CHORDS using Free Virtual Piano Chord Chart |
Lesson 10 - Three Primary Chords Lesson 11 - 12 Bar Blues Chord Progression |
Lesson 12 - 12 Keys of Music |
Lesson 13 - Major Scale
Lesson 14 - Musical Intervals Lesson 15 - Chords of the Major Scale Lesson 16 - The Circle of Fifths |
Lesson 17 - Chord Inversions Lesson 18 - Double Chord Pattern Lesson 19 - Broken Chord Pattern Lesson 20 - Arpeggio Chord Pattern Lesson 21 - Sounds of the Orient (Pentatonic Scale) Lesson 22 - Mysterious Sounds (Whole Tone Scale) Lesson 23 - Arpeggios |
Intermediate Piano Lesson 24 - America (My Country Tis of Thee) Lesson 25 - Silent Night Lesson 26 - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen |
Lesson 27 - Minor Chord Lesson 28 - Three Secondary Chords Lesson 29 - Dominant 7th Chord Lesson 30 - Major 7th Chord Lesson 31 - Minor 7th Chord Lesson 32 - Natural Minor Scale Lesson 33 - Chords of the Natural Minor Scale |
Lesson 34 - Melody as Octaves Lesson 35 - Root Chord Pattern Lesson 36 - Harmony Notes Lesson 37 - Major Chord Inversions Lesson 38 - Chord Inversion Straddles |
Advanced Piano Lesson 39 - The First Noel (Flash demo version) Lesson 40 - Auld Lang Syne Lesson 41 - Hark! The Herald Angels Sing |
Lesson 42 - Diminished Chord Lesson 43 - Augmented Chord Lesson 44 - 6th Chords Lesson 45 - Sus2 Chords Lesson 46 - Sus4 Chords Lesson 47 - Major 9th Chords Lesson 48 - Major 11th Chords Lesson 49 - Major 13th Chords Lesson 51 - Blues Scale |
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