The Major Scale
The major scale is a series of eight notes in alphabetical order, based on a sequence of tone-tone-semitone-tone-tone-tone-semitone. This gives the familiar sound of DO RE MI FA SO LA TI DO. The name of the major scale is taken from its first note (called the root note). Here is the C major scale:
The C major scale can be written on the staff as such:
Each note of the scale can be identified by using Roman numerals. Thus F is said to be the 4th of the C scale, G is the 5th and so on.
Three Four Time
This time signature indicates three quarter note beats per bar, e.g.:
^ time is often referred to as "Waltz Time".
The following example, which is in ^ time, uses the C major scale as a descending bass line.
The last bar of this progression uses a dotted half note, which is worth three counts. The dot is a sign placed after a note indicating that its time value is extended by half, e.g.:
*Am7 is shorthand for A minor seventh.
