A major scale on guitar
The major scale is the foundation of Western music: seven notes, with a half step between the 3rd and 4th degrees and between the 7th degree and the octave. It sounds bright and happy.
On the whole neck
Position from fret 4
Root notes are filled. The position groups the notes of the scale in one area of the neck, starting from the root on the 6th string.
Notes of the scale
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | root |
| 2 | B | major second |
| 3 | C♯ (C sharp) | major third |
| 4 | D | perfect fourth |
| 5 | E | perfect fifth |
| 6 | F♯ (F sharp) | major sixth |
| 7 | G♯ (G sharp) | major seventh |
Steps between notes: W – W – H – W – W – W – H (W = whole step, H = half step)
Relative scale: the F sharp natural minor scale, with exactly the same notes.
Chords of the scale
Triads built on each degree:
Other A scales
- Minor
- Harmonic minor
- Melodic minor
- Major pentatonic
- Minor pentatonic
- Blues
- Dorian
- Phrygian
- Lydian
- Mixolydian
- Locrian