A major scale on piano
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 keyboard
Numbers above the keys are the scale degrees; the root is filled.
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