Scales refer to a series of notes that go in an ascending and descending manner. The major scale is the foundation from which all other scales are formed.
A major scale is a diatonic scale. The sequence of intervals between the notes of a major scale is: “whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half”, where “whole” stands for a whole tone, and “half” stands for a semitone. A major scale may be seen as two identical tetrachords separated by a whole tone. Each tetrachord consists of two whole tones followed by a semitone: “whole, whole, half“. The C major scale begins with a C and ends with a C. The same rule applies with the rest of the keys where a D Major Scale begins and ends with a D and so on. The notes on a major scale is numbered from 1 to 8, this signifies the intervals.
Building Major Scales
How to play the C Major scale on the Mandolin
Other Scales and Key Signatures articles in the Mandolin Theory series
Mandolin Theory – Key Signature Calculation
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Mandolin Theory – Key Signatures
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Mandolin Theory – Scale Degrees
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Mandolin Theory – The Minor Scales
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Mandolin Theory – The Major Scale
Scales refer to a series of notes that go in an ascending and descending manner. The major scale is the [...]
