Each whole step is labeled with a square bracket and “W,” and each half step is labeled with an angled bracket and “H.”Ī major scale always starts and ends on notes of the same letter name, one octave apart, and this starting and ending note determines the name of the scale. Listen to Example 1 to hear an ascending major scale. Major ScalesĪ major scale is an ordered collection of half- (abbreviated H) and whole steps (abbreviated W) in the following ascending succession: W-W-H-W-W-W-H. All of the major key signatures are placed on a circle in order of number of accidentals.Ī scale is an ordered collection of half and whole steps (see Half and Whole Steps and Accidentals to review).

The circle of fifths is a convenient visual for remembering major key signatures.

In flat key signatures, the second-to-last flat is the tonic.

In sharp key signatures, the last sharp is a half step below the tonic (the first note of a scale). The order of sharps in key signatures is F, C, G, D, A, E, B, while the order of flats is the opposite: B, E, A, D, G, C, F.A key signature, consisting of either sharps or flats, appears at the beginning of a composition, after a clef but before a time signature.Each note of a major scale is also named with scale-degree names: tonic, supertonic, mediant, subdominant, dominant, submediant, and leading tone.The syllables are do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, and ti. Solfège solmization syllables are another method of naming notes in a major scale.Scale degrees are solmization syllables notated by Arabic numerals with carets above them.Major scales are named for their first note (which is also their last note), including any accidental that applies to the note.

A major scale is an ordered collection of half (H) and whole (W) steps with the ascending succession W‑W‑H‑W‑W‑W‑H.

E flat major scale in bass clef