sca00.gif
Jazz Scales
 MAJOR SCALE

C | C# = Db | D | Eb | E | F | F# = Gb | G | Ab | A | Bb | B
Description         Keyboard fingerings : p.1 - p.2
Derivative Bebop scales

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Description of the major scale

A major scale consists of 7 different notes.
The intervals from note to note of the major scale in any key are :

tone - tone - semitone - tone - tone - tone - semitone

The major scale can also be described as two major tetrachords (tone - tone - semitone), separated by a tone.
[Tetrachord = 4 notes covering an interval of a perfect 4th (5 semitones)]

The C major scale consists of all white keys on the keyboard.
The two tetrachords for the C major scale are :

(major tetrachord) C - D - E - F <-- tone --> G - A - B - C (major tetrachord)

Audio 1
scamaj1.gif

Likewise the two tetrachords for the G major scale are :
(major tetrachord) G - A - B - C <-- tone --> D - E - F# - G (major tetrachord)

Audio 2
(I first play the C major scale, then the G major scale) scamaj2.gif


Notice that the two major scales are interlocking. The upper tetrachord of the major scale is the same as the lower tetrachord of the G major scale.

Likewise the G and D major scales also share one tatrachord, so do the D and A major scales, and so on, all around the Circle of Fifths.

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Here are the major scales in all 12 keys listed in Circle of Fifths order.

  1. C major scale   Key signature : no sharp or flat

    C - D - E - F - G - A - B - C

  2. G major scale   Key signature : 1 sharp

    G - A - B - C - D - E - F# - G


  3. D major scale   Key signature : 2 sharps (Down - Up - Top)

    D - E - F# - G - A - B - C# - D


  4. A major scale   Key signature : 3 sharps

    A - B - C# - D - E - F# - G# - A


  5. E major scale   Key signature : 4 sharps

    E - F# - G# - A - B - C# - D# - E


  6. B major scale   Key signature : 5 sharps (Down - Up - Top)

    B - C# - D# - E - F# - G# - A# - B


  7. F# and Gb major scales   Key signature : 6 sharps , 6 flats

    F# - G# - A# - B - C# - D# - E# (=F) - F#
    Gb - Ab - Bb - Cb (=B) - Db - Eb - F - Gb


  8. Db and C# major scales   Key signature : 5 flats , 7 sharps

    Db - Eb - F - Gb - Ab - Bb - C - Db
    C# - D# - E# (=F) - F# - G# - A# - B# (=C) - C#


  9. Ab major scale   Key signature : 4 flats (Down - Up - Top)

    Ab - Bb - C - Db - Eb - F - G - Ab


  10. Eb major scale   Key signature : 3 flats

    Eb - F - G - Ab - Bb - C - D - Eb


  11. Bb major scale   Key signature : 2 flats

    Bb - C - D - Eb - F - G - A - Bb


  12. F major scale   Key signature : 1 flat (Down - Up - Top)

    F - G - A - Bb - C - D - E - F



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Copyright © 2002 Michael Furstner. All rights reserved.