More About Major Scales
Once you know the pattern of tones and semitones used to create the C major scale, you can build a major scale on any of the twelve notes used in music, so it is important to memorize this pattern.
The semitones are always found between the 3rd and 4th, and 7th and 8th degrees (notes) of the scale. All the other notes are a tone apart.
To demonstrate that the major scale pattern can begin on any note, here is the G major scale. Notice that the 7th degree is F sharp (F#) instead of F. This is done to maintain the correct pattern of tones and semitones and thus retain the sound of the major scale (do re mi fa so la ti do).
The F major scale starts and ends on the note F and contains a B flat (Bb) note. Here are two octaves of the F major scale. In the F major scale, a Bb note must be used instead of a B note in order to keep the correct pattern of tones and semitones for the major scale.
As you will have noticed with the scales of G major and F major, major scales starting on different notes are simply higher or lower versions of the same sequence of sounds. This is because they always use the same pattern of tones and semitones.
By simply following this pattern of tones and semitones, it is possible to construct a major scale starting on any note. The scale will be named by its starting note. Remember that in the major scale the semitones are always found between the 3rd and 4th, and 7th and 8th degrees.
