The major scale is a series of 8 notes in alphabetical order that has the familiar sound:
The C major scale contains the following notes.
The distance between each note is two frets (a tone) except for EF and BC where the distance is only one fret (a semitone).
An octave is the range of 8 notes of a major scale. The first note and last note of a major scale always have the same name. In the C major scale the distance from the lowest C to the C note above it is one octave (8 notes). The notation below shows one octave of the C major scale.
Each of the 8 notes in the major scale is given a scale degree (or scale number). A knowledge of scale degrees is essential to any Jazz musician as they are constantly used in both melody (lead guitar) and harmony (rhythm guitar).