The C Major Scale

This is Part Three of a 3-part Series:

1. Piano Notes – The Notes on the Piano Keyboard

2. The Musical Alphabet

3. (You are here) The C Major Scale

The C Major Scale

The C Major Scale is one of the easiest scales to play! Just simply play the white keys from one C note up to the next C note to the right. This is the scale we all know as “Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Ti Do.”

What Is A Major Scale?

The major scale is a formula of half steps and whole steps.

So first, what are half steps and whole steps?

A half step is the distance from any one key (or note), to the very next key (or note), be it black or white. A whole step is simply two half steps.

Looking at the chart above, notice that there is no black key between “E” and “F.” That means it is a half step from “E” to “F.” Notice there is no black key between “B” and “C,” making the distance between these two notes also a half step.

All of the other notes in the C Major scale have a black key between them and their next note neighbor, making the distance between them a whole step.

Looking at the chart above, notice the black key between “C” and “D”, making a whole step. There is another whole step from “D” to “E,” then a half step from “E” to “F,” whole from “F” to “G,” a whole from “G” to “A,” a whole from “A” to “B,” and finally a half from “B” to “C.”

So, to make the C Major Scale, start with the note “C” and go whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, whole step, half step.

Remember:

Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half.

Try using this formula to find the major scale of other notes, black or white.