21: Major Scales
Scales with Accidentals
Now we can take that pattern of whole and half steps and apply it to
another scale. Let’s start on F this time.F Major Scale
Example 21.2 The F major scale, ascending, with whole and half steps shown.
In order for our series of whole and half steps to be correct (wwhwwwh),
we have to alter a note. Look at your keyboard while you examine the
whole and half steps in the F major scale to see where those half and
whole steps fall. That Bb is necessary to get the half step between the
third and fourth degrees of the scale. The Bb also gives us the whole step
between the fourth and fifth degrees of the scale.
A degree is a name for a scale tone, and is usually associated with a
number. For example the 4th degree of a scale is the fourth note from the
bottom.
In the above scale, because E to F is a natural half step, we don’t need to
alter either of those degrees of the scale to have the half step between the
seventh and eighth degrees of the scale.G Major Scale
Example 21.3 The G major scale, ascending, with whole and half steps shown.
Follow along with your keyboard and you can see where the whole and
half steps should be for the Major scale starting on G.
Between the third and fourth degree of the scale we have the natural half
step from B-C, and between the seventh and eighth degree of the scale, in