A Major Scale is a scale which uses all 7 letter names. It also gives us the familiar"doh-re-mi-fah-so-lah-ti-doh" pattern which we hear so often in"western" music.
It does this by using a W-W-H-W-W-W-H pattern between "ascending"steps in the scale.
Eg. A C Major Scale starts on Cand goes up one note at a time until it reaches the next C.
It also follows the pattern W-W-H-W-W-W-Hbetween notes.
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1. Write the notes of the scale starting and ending with the scale name. (C to C, G to G, etc.)
2. Mark the W-W-H-W-W-W-H pattern between the adjacent (side by side) ascending (going up) notes of the scale.
3. Identify the space between notes which don't match the pattern. (*)
4. Use accidentals (sharps(#) and flats(b)) to make the W-W-H-W-W-W-H pattern work.
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Most melodies in "western music" from nursery rhymes to classical symphonies to rock are based on notes in a Major Scale.
When a song uses the notes from a Major Scaleit is said to be in the Keyof that scale. (ie. The Key of G usesthe notes from a G Major Scale)
Since we know we have to use certain accidentals(#s & bs) in Major Scales, then those sameaccidentals would have to be used in songs written in theKeys of those major scales. (ie. Since F is raised to F#in a G Major Scale then every F used in a song written in the Key of G would also be raisedto F#.)
Rather than write accidentals for every F in the song weplace a sharp(#) sign at the beginning of the Staff on F.
This means that everyF will be # unless canceled with a natural sign.
These accidentals placed at the beginningof the staff are called a Key Signature.
The Key Signature tells us which notes willbe sharp(#) or flat(b) throughout the musicand it also tells us the Key (MajorScale) upon which the music is based.
There are 5 Key Signatureswhich you will come across most often in your music.
You should memorize which accidentalsthey contain and which Keys they represent.
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