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In music theory
Music theory

Music theory is the field of study that deals with how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It identifies patterns that govern composer techniques....
, the major scale or Ionian
Ionian mode

The Ionian mode is a musical mode of diatonic scale. It was part of the music theory of ancient Greece, and was based around the relative natural scale in C ....
 scale is one of the diatonic
Diatonic scale

In music theory, a diatonic scale is a seven note musical scale comprising five whole steps and two half steps, in which the half steps are maximally separated....
 scale
Musical scale

In music, a scale is a group of musical note collected in ascending and descending order that provides material for or is used to conveniently represent part or all of a musical work including melody and/or harmony....
s. It is made up of seven distinct note
Note

In music, the term note has two primary meanings: 1) a sign used in musical notation to represent the relative duration and pitch of a sound; and 2) a pitched sound itself....
s, plus an eighth which duplicates the first an octave
Octave

In music, an octave The octave is occasionally referred to as a diapason.The octave above an indicated note is sometimes abbreviated 8va, and the octave below 8vb....
 higher. In solfege
Solfege

In music, solf?ge is a pedagogical solmization technique for the teaching of sight-singing in which each note of the score is sung to a special syllable, called a solf?ge syllable ....
 these notes correspond to the syllables "Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti, (Do)". The simplest major scale to write
Musical notation

Music notation or musical notation is any system which represents aurally perceived music, through the use of written Modern musical symbols....
 or play on the piano
Piano

The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard instrument. Widely used in Western music for solo performance, ensemble use, chamber music, and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to musical composition and rehearsal....
 is C major
C major

C major is a musical major scale based on C, with pitches C , D , E , F , G , A , and B . Its key signature has no flats/sharps.Its relative key is A minor, and its parallel key is C minor....
, the only major scale not to require sharp
Sharp (music)

In music, sharp means higher in pitch. More specifically, in musical notation, sharp means "higher in pitch by a semitone ," and has an associated symbol , which is often confused with the number sign ....
s or flats, using only the white keys on the piano keyboard
Musical keyboard

A musical keyboard is the set of adjacent depressible levers or keys on a musical instrument, particularly the piano. Keyboards typically contain keys for playing the twelve notes of the Western musical scale, with a combination of larger, longer keys and smaller, shorter keys that repeats at the interval of an octave....
:

jor scale may be seen as two identical tetrachord
Tetrachord

Traditionally, a tetrachord is a series of four tones filling in the interval of a perfect fourth, a 4:3 frequency proportion. In modern usage a tetrachord is any four-note segment of a scale or tone row....
s separated by a whole tone
Major second

A major second , also called a whole step or a whole tone,One source says step is "chiefly US."The preferred usage has been argued since the 19th century:...
, or whole step, the new set of steps "W,W,H,W,W,W,H"(in Semi-tone 2 2 1 2 2 2 1).






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what major scale only uses the white notes on a keyboard?








Encyclopedia


In music theory
Music theory

Music theory is the field of study that deals with how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It identifies patterns that govern composer techniques....
, the major scale or Ionian
Ionian mode

The Ionian mode is a musical mode of diatonic scale. It was part of the music theory of ancient Greece, and was based around the relative natural scale in C ....
 scale is one of the diatonic
Diatonic scale

In music theory, a diatonic scale is a seven note musical scale comprising five whole steps and two half steps, in which the half steps are maximally separated....
 scale
Musical scale

In music, a scale is a group of musical note collected in ascending and descending order that provides material for or is used to conveniently represent part or all of a musical work including melody and/or harmony....
s. It is made up of seven distinct note
Note

In music, the term note has two primary meanings: 1) a sign used in musical notation to represent the relative duration and pitch of a sound; and 2) a pitched sound itself....
s, plus an eighth which duplicates the first an octave
Octave

In music, an octave The octave is occasionally referred to as a diapason.The octave above an indicated note is sometimes abbreviated 8va, and the octave below 8vb....
 higher. In solfege
Solfege

In music, solf?ge is a pedagogical solmization technique for the teaching of sight-singing in which each note of the score is sung to a special syllable, called a solf?ge syllable ....
 these notes correspond to the syllables "Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti, (Do)". The simplest major scale to write
Musical notation

Music notation or musical notation is any system which represents aurally perceived music, through the use of written Modern musical symbols....
 or play on the piano
Piano

The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard instrument. Widely used in Western music for solo performance, ensemble use, chamber music, and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to musical composition and rehearsal....
 is C major
C major

C major is a musical major scale based on C, with pitches C , D , E , F , G , A , and B . Its key signature has no flats/sharps.Its relative key is A minor, and its parallel key is C minor....
, the only major scale not to require sharp
Sharp (music)

In music, sharp means higher in pitch. More specifically, in musical notation, sharp means "higher in pitch by a semitone ," and has an associated symbol , which is often confused with the number sign ....
s or flats, using only the white keys on the piano keyboard
Musical keyboard

A musical keyboard is the set of adjacent depressible levers or keys on a musical instrument, particularly the piano. Keyboards typically contain keys for playing the twelve notes of the Western musical scale, with a combination of larger, longer keys and smaller, shorter keys that repeats at the interval of an octave....
:

Structure

C Major Scale
A major scale may be seen as two identical tetrachord
Tetrachord

Traditionally, a tetrachord is a series of four tones filling in the interval of a perfect fourth, a 4:3 frequency proportion. In modern usage a tetrachord is any four-note segment of a scale or tone row....
s separated by a whole tone
Major second

A major second , also called a whole step or a whole tone,One source says step is "chiefly US."The preferred usage has been argued since the 19th century:...
, or whole step, the new set of steps "W,W,H,W,W,W,H"(in Semi-tone 2 2 1 2 2 2 1). Each tetrachord consists of two whole steps followed by a half step
Semitone

A semitone, also called a half step or a half tone,Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, and others use "half tone".One source says that step is "chiefly US", and that half-tone is "chiefly N....
. Western scales do not skip any line or space on the staff
Staff (music)

In standard Western musical notation, the stave is a set of five horizontal lines and four spaces, each of which represents a different musical pitch , or, in the case of a percussion staff, different percussion instruments....
, and they do not repeat any note with a different accidental
Accidental (music)

In music, an accidental is a note whose Pitch is not a member of a Musical scale or Musical mode indicated by the Modulation key signature. In musical notation, the symbols used to mark such notes, Sharp , Flat , and Natural sign , may also be called accidentals....
. This has the effect of forcing the key signature
Key signature

In musical notation, a key signature is a series of Sharp or Flat symbols placed on the staff , designating note s that are to be consistently played one semitone higher or lower than the equivalent natural sign notes unless otherwise altered with an Accidental ....
 to feature just sharps or just flats.

Named scale degrees


  • 1st – Tonic
    Tonic (music)

    The tonic is the first note of a scale in the tonality method of musical composition. The chord #The Triad formed on the tonic note, the tonic chord, is thus the most significant chord ....
    - key note
  • 2nd – Supertonic
    Supertonic

    In music or music theory, the supertonic is the second degree or note of a diatonic scale . For example, in the C major scale , the supertonic is the note D; and the supertonic chord uses the notes D, F, and A....
  • 3rd – Mediant
    Mediant

    In music, the mediant is the third degree of the diatonic Scale , being the "middle" note of the Tonic triad .In music theory, the mediant chord is symbolized by the Roman numeral III if it is major or iii if it is minor....
  • 4th – Subdominant
    Subdominant

    In music, the subdominant is the technical name for the fourth tonal degree of the diatonic scale. It is so called because it is the same distance "below" the Tonic as the dominant is above the tonic - in other words, the tonic is the dominant of the subdominant....
  • 5th – Dominant
    Dominant (music)

    In music, the dominant is the fifth degree of the Scale . For example, in the C major scale , the dominant is the note G; and the dominant chord uses the notes G, B, and D....
  • 6th – Submediant
    Submediant

    In music, the submediant is the sixth tonal degree of the diatonic scale. It is so called because it is a third below the Tonic , in contrast to the mediant being a third above the tonic....
  • 7th – Leading Tone (or Leading Note)
  • 8th – Tonic
    Tonic (music)

    The tonic is the first note of a scale in the tonality method of musical composition. The chord #The Triad formed on the tonic note, the tonic chord, is thus the most significant chord ....
     ( or Octave
    Octave

    In music, an octave The octave is occasionally referred to as a diapason.The octave above an indicated note is sometimes abbreviated 8va, and the octave below 8vb....
    )

Scales with sharp key signatures


Sharp key signature
Key signature

In musical notation, a key signature is a series of Sharp or Flat symbols placed on the staff , designating note s that are to be consistently played one semitone higher or lower than the equivalent natural sign notes unless otherwise altered with an Accidental ....
s consist of a number of sharps between one and seven, applied in this order: F C G D A E B. The key note or tonic
Tonic (music)

The tonic is the first note of a scale in the tonality method of musical composition. The chord #The Triad formed on the tonic note, the tonic chord, is thus the most significant chord ....
 is immediately above the last sharp in the signature. For example, one sharp (F) in the key signature of a piece in a major key indicates the key of G major, the next note above F. (Six sharps, the last one being E (an enharmonic
Enharmonic

In modern music and musical notation, an enharmonic equivalent is a note , interval , or key signature which is equivalence to some other note, interval, or key signature, but "spelled", or named, differently....
 spelling of F) indicate the key of F major, since F has already been sharped in the key signature.) C maj – 0 sharps G maj – 1 sharp – F D maj – 2 sharps – F, C A maj – 3 sharps – F, C, G E maj – 4 sharps – F, C, G, D B maj – 5 sharps – F, C, G, D, A F maj – 6 sharps – F, C, G, D, A, E C maj – 7 sharps – F, C, G, D, A, E, B

This table shows that each scale starting on the fifth
Perfect fifth

The perfect fifth is the musical interval between a note and the note seven semitones above it on the musical scale. For example, the note G lies a perfect fifth above C; D is a perfect fifth above G, C is a perfect fifth above F, and so on....
 scale degree of the previous scale has one new sharp, added in the order given above.

Scales with flat key signatures


Flat key signatures consist of one to seven flats, applied as: B E A D G C F (same as the order of sharps, but reversed.) The major scale with one flat is F major. In all other flat major scales, the tonic or key note is indicated by the second to last flat. In the major key with four flats, for example, the penultimate flat is A, indicating a key of A major.

C maj – 0 flats F maj – 1 flat – B B maj – 2 flats – B, E E maj – 3 flats – B, E, A A maj – 4 flats – B, E, A, D D maj – 5 flats – B, E, A, D, G G maj – 6 flats – B, E, A, D, G, C C maj - 7 flats - B, E, A, D, G, C, F

In this case each new scale starts a fifth below (or a fourth
Perfect fourth

The perfect fourth is a musical interval which spans four diatonic scale scale degree. It consists of the note and the note five semitones above it on the musical scale....
 above) the previous one.

The circle of fifths


The circle of fifths
Circle of fifths

In music theory, the circle of fifths shows the relationships among the twelve tones of the chromatic scale, their corresponding key signatures, and the associated major and minor keys....
 provides a useful way of seeing the relationship of the major keys:

The numbers inside the circle show the number of sharps or flats in the key signature, with the sharp keys going clockwise, and the flat keys counterclockwise from C major (which has no sharps or flats.) Six sharps or flats make the enharmonic
Enharmonic

In modern music and musical notation, an enharmonic equivalent is a note , interval , or key signature which is equivalence to some other note, interval, or key signature, but "spelled", or named, differently....
ally identical keys of F or G. Seven sharps or flats make major keys (C major and C major) that may be more conveniently spelled with five flats or sharps (as D major or B major).

Harmonic properties

The major scale may predominate the minor scale
Minor scale

A minor scale in music theory is a diatonic scale with a third scale degree at an Interval of a minor third above the Tonic . While this definition encompasses Musical mode with the minor third, such as Dorian mode, the term may more usually refer only to the natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor scales, descri...
 in Western music because of its unique harmonic
Harmonic

In acoustics and telecommunication, a harmonic of a wave is a component frequency of the Signalling that is an integer multiple of the fundamental frequency....
 properties; in particular the major third is much stronger in the harmonic series
Harmonic series (music)

Definite pitch musical instruments are often based on an approximate harmonic oscillator such as a string or a column of air, which oscillates at numerous frequencies simultaneously....
 (it is the 5th, 10th and 20th harmonic - see below) than the minor third (the 19th harmonic).

In other words, the first six notes of the harmonic series
Harmonic series (music)

Definite pitch musical instruments are often based on an approximate harmonic oscillator such as a string or a column of air, which oscillates at numerous frequencies simultaneously....
 provide a consonant major chord, the fourth to sixth of which form a major triad
Triad (music)

In music and music theory, a triad is a three-note chord that can be stacked in thirds. Its members, when actually stacked in thirds, from lowest pitched tone to highest, are called:...
, and seven of the nine notes between the 8th and 16th harmonics (the 7th and 15th overtone
Overtone

An overtone is a natural resonance of a system. Systems described by overtones are often sound systems, for example, blown pipes or plucked strings....
s) are notes in the major scale in just intonation
Just intonation

In music, just intonation is any musical tuning in which the frequency of notes are related by ratios of whole numbers. Any interval tuned in this way is called a just interval; in other words, the two notes are members of the same harmonic series ....
. See the following:

The major scale allows:
  • three-part major or minor chords, both stable and consonant
    Consonance and dissonance

    In music, a consonance is a harmony, Chord , or interval considered stable, as opposed to a dissonance ? considered unstable . The strictest definition of consonance may be only those sounds which are pleasant, while the most general definition includes any sounds which are used freely....
    , on every scale degree
    Degree (music)

    In music theory, a scale degree is the name of a particular note of a scale in relation to the Tonic . The degrees of the traditional major and minor scales may be identified several ways:...
     but the seventh
    Seventh

    Seventh may refer to:*Seventh_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution to the U.S. Constitution...
  • a diminished fifth within the seventh chord built on the fifth degree, the dominant
    Dominant (music)

    In music, the dominant is the fifth degree of the Scale . For example, in the C major scale , the dominant is the note G; and the dominant chord uses the notes G, B, and D....
  • motion by a minor second from the leading tone to the tonic
  • root
    Root (chord)

    In music the root of a chord is the note or pitch upon which that chord is perceived or labelled as being built or tonality centered upon. This feeling of centeredness is aurally perceivable for those who grew up with European music, and its verbal labelling is a basic skill for the musically trained....
     motion by perfect fifth
    Perfect fifth

    The perfect fifth is the musical interval between a note and the note seven semitones above it on the musical scale. For example, the note G lies a perfect fifth above C; D is a perfect fifth above G, C is a perfect fifth above F, and so on....
    s, the strongest root motion, from nearly every degree in either direction, the two exceptions being up a perfect fifth from the seventh degree, and down a perfect fifth from the fourth degree


See also

  • Minor scale
    Minor scale

    A minor scale in music theory is a diatonic scale with a third scale degree at an Interval of a minor third above the Tonic . While this definition encompasses Musical mode with the minor third, such as Dorian mode, the term may more usually refer only to the natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor scales, descri...
  • Enharmonic
    Enharmonic

    In modern music and musical notation, an enharmonic equivalent is a note , interval , or key signature which is equivalence to some other note, interval, or key signature, but "spelled", or named, differently....
  • Equal temperament
    Equal temperament

    Equal temperament is a musical temperament, or a system of Musical tuning in which every pair of adjacent notes has an identical frequency ratios....
  • Just intonation
    Just intonation

    In music, just intonation is any musical tuning in which the frequency of notes are related by ratios of whole numbers. Any interval tuned in this way is called a just interval; in other words, the two notes are members of the same harmonic series ....
  • Lydian mode
    Lydian mode

    Due to historical confusion, Lydian mode can refer to two very different musical modes or diatonic scales....
  • Major and minor
    Major and minor

    In music, the adjectives major and minor can describe a scale , key , chord , or interval . For intervals, the terms refer to a difference in their relative width, major referring to notes somewhat further apart; the other terms are classifications based on the use of certain intervals, especially the major or minor third....
  • Music theory
    Music theory

    Music theory is the field of study that deals with how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It identifies patterns that govern composer techniques....
  • Tetrachord
    Tetrachord

    Traditionally, a tetrachord is a series of four tones filling in the interval of a perfect fourth, a 4:3 frequency proportion. In modern usage a tetrachord is any four-note segment of a scale or tone row....


External links

  • in several positions
  • in one position, with derivation