Major Scale
The foundation of Western music.
Understanding the major scale
The major scale has been the basis of Western music for at least 400 years. Most scales and chords we play are derived from it in some way. Even the names of the intervals are based on their position within the major scale.
The major scale consists of mostly whole steps (two frets, or a major second), with two half steps (one fret, or minor second) between scale degrees 3-4 and 7-1.
Practicing the major scale
As described in Playing Scales Musically, we want to practice the major scale with chord tones on downbeats, in order to train our ears and fingers to play them musically.
Major triad arpeggio
The chord tones of major triad chords are described by the major triad arpeggio. When we practice major scales, we know we are playing chord tones on downbeats when we can hear this arpeggio thumping out like a heartbeat underneath the scale.
Major scale practice pattern
To practice the major scale with a chord tone on every other note, we need to address the fact that there are two notes between the 5 and 1.
A good approach is to skip straight from the 6 to the 1, and then double back and play the 7 moving to the 1 again. In addition to playing chord tones on downbeats, this pattern practices the melodic device of resolving from the leading tone into the tonic, as described in the lesson on the major seventh interval.
Press the play button to see and hear the pattern, followed by the arpeggio. Try playing it on repeat a few times to help get the sound of the chord tones in your ears.
See the E-shape Major Scale lesson for an example of playing this pattern on the fretboard.