MusicianCV · TRBuilding a major scale
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Building scales
The major-scale step pattern is whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half. Preserve the pattern when the starting pitch changes.
Track spelling as well as distance. In the basic seven-note spelling, each letter name appears once. Playing only white keys will not produce a major scale from every starting note.
Example
F major: F–G–A–B♭–C–D–E–F.
Building a major scaleC D E F G A B C
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Why is B flat in F major?
Answer
It provides a semitone from A to B♭ and a whole step from B♭ to C.Related topics
Scale degrees and tonal centre · Building diatonic chords in majorReferences
Music Theory for the 21st-Century Classroom
Subject-expert review pending.