Major Scale Theory

Sections

1. Major Scale Theory

2. Major Scale Formula

3. Cycle of Fifths

4. Cycle of Fourths

5. Key Signatures

6. Circle of Fifths

The purpose of this lesson is to familiarize the student with major scale theory. Constructing the major scale will enable you to understand how any given key generates the particular sharps and flats that are in the given key.

     The Major Scale can be considered the basic building block of all music theory. In the lessons that follow you will see just how important and true this really is. This lesson teaches you how to construct a Major scale in all twelve keys.

1. Other scales are derived from the major scale.
2. Chords are derived/extracted from the major scale.
3. This exercise will show you how each key will generate it’s own number of sharps (#’s) or flats (b’s) and what they are.

     In Western music we have an agreed upon system whereby between E and F and B and C are natural half-steps, meaning these are the only pairs of natural notes that are only a half-step apart. All other natural notes are a full whole-step apart.

Major Scale Formula

     Any major scale can be constructed by determining the root (key) and then using the major scale formula.

W = Whole step H = Half step

1. This formula is applied to all 12 keys.
2. In the Major scale, half-steps always occur between the 3rd. and 4th. and between the 7th. and 8th. scale degrees.

Cycle of Fifths (sharps)

1. The CYCLE OF FIFTHS is a series of keys - each new key is 5 tones away from the previous key.
2. The CYCLE OF FIFTHS is the only order of keys that will generate (produce) one new sharp (#) in each NEW key in the series.
3. The new sharp for each key in the CYCLE OF FIFTHS is always the seventh scale degree.

Cycle of Fourths (flats)

1. The CYCLE OF FOURTHS is another series of keys – each new key is 4 tones away from the previous key.
2. The CYCLE OF FOURTHS is the only order of keys that will generate one new flat (b) in each NEW key in the series.
3. The new flat for each key in the CYCLE OF FOURTHS is always the fourth scale degree.

Give incomplete examples, allow the student to finish them, then give complete correct answers on the following page.

Key Signatures

     Here is a system to help you memorize all the practical key signatures. Memorize the keys containing sharps (#’s) first - (CYCLE OF FIFTHS). Then memorize the keys containing Flats (b’s) -( CYCLE OF FOURTHS).

GUIDELINES (CYCLE OF FIFTHS)

1. Memorize the order of keys - C G D A E B F# C#
2. Memorize the number of sharps in each key - For example: C = 0, G = 1, D =2, etc.
3. Memorize the actual sharps contained in each key:

GUIDELINES  (CYCLE OF FOURTHS)

Circle of Fifths

This diagram shows the relationship between the cycle of fifths and the cycle of fourths. Start at the C and move clockwise. Each note visited is the next in the cycle of fifths. Start at the C and move counterclockwise, and each note visited is in the cycle of fourths.