Scales & keys · Beginner

Build a major scale

Use whole and half steps to build scales and understand keys.

• Pattern: whole · whole · half · whole · whole · whole · half
• A half step is one semitone; a whole step is two.
• The first note is the tonic—the scale’s home base.

Example: C major is C–D–E–F–G–A–B–C. G major is G–A–B–C–D–E–F♯–G.