Concept Of Major & Minor Scale

Concept Of Major & Minor Scale 

by Ajsnoise(Arup Jack Sarkar)

The major scale is a fundamental concept in music theory and is built on a specific formula of intervals between its notes. The formula for constructing a major scale is as follows:

Formula :

[ Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half ]

Demo/Diagram by Piano :

Significant of "R" Mean: Route Note/Starting Note.

Significant of 'W' & 'H' Mean: Whole Note & Half Note.

To create a major scale, you start on a given note (the tonic or the root note) and apply the whole and half step intervals according to the formula.

Let's take the C major scale as an example:

1. Start on C.
2. Move up a whole step to D.
3. Move up another whole step to E.
4. Move up a half step to F.
5. Move up a whole step to G.
6. Move up another whole step to A.
7. Move up a whole step to B.
8. Finally, move up a half step to complete the scale back at C.

So, for C major scale:

C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C

[ Note:

•  A "whole" step means one note removed from the root note to the next note.

• The "Half" note will be the tie right after the root note.]

Demo/Diagram by Guitar:

Formula is Same:

G Major Scale

Note: G A B C D E F# G

Here's a breakdown of the formula:

1. Whole (W): This interval represents a whole step, which is the distance of two semitones on the piano or guitar, or two frets on a stringed instrument.

2. Half (H): This interval represents a half step, which is the distance of one semitone on the piano or guitar, or one fret on a stringed instrument.

Concept Of Minor scale

[ Similar to the major scale, the minor scale also follows a specific formula of intervals between its notes. The formula for constructing a natural minor scale is as follows: ]

Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole

Here's a breakdown of the formula:

1. Whole (W): This interval represents a whole step, which is the distance of two semitones on the piano or guitar, or two frets on a stringed instrument.

2. Half (H): This interval represents a half step, which is the distance of one semitone on the piano or guitar, or one fret on a stringed instrument.

To create a natural minor scale, you start on a given note (the tonic or the root note) and apply the whole and half step intervals according to the formula.

Let's take the A natural minor scale as an example:

1. Start on A.
2. Move up a whole step to B.
3. Move up a half step to C.
4. Move up a whole step to D.
5. Move up a whole step to E.
6. Move up a half step to F.
7. Move up a whole step to G.
8. Finally, move up a whole step to complete the scale back at A.

So, for A natural minor scale:

A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A

How To Know

which is the Relative minor scale of the Major Scale

 Major to Minor

[ The 6th note of the major scale will always be the minor note.] 

Minor to major 

 [ The 3rd note of the Minor scale will always be the Major note.]