The Major Scale
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 except for EF and BC where the distance is only one fret.
A distance of two frets is called a tone, indicated by T.
A distance of one fret is called a semitone, indicated by ST.
In the C major scale the distance from the lowest C to the C note above it is one octave (eight notes). Here is the C major scale, both ascending and descending.
Each of the eight notes in the major scale is given a scale number or scale degree.
The distance between two notes is called an interval.
In any major scale the interval between the 3rd and 4th notes (degrees) and the 7th and 8th notes (degrees) in the scale is one semitone (1 fret). All other notes (degrees) are one tone (2 frets) apart.
This diagram shows all the natural notes in the first three frets. This is called the open position. The notes are all from the C major scale, even though the lowest note of the pattern is E and the highest note is G. The key note, indicated by a white square, is the note for which the scale is named. Therefore, in the C major scale, the key note C is indicated twice.
C Major Scale in Open Position
Here are the notes from the diagram written in eighth notes. Play them using rest stroke, alternating i and m, and also m and a. Then practice them free stroke with p.
The notes of the C major scale can be used to play thousands of melodies, including this very simple one. Once you have memorized the fingering for the scale, experiment with it and create some melodies yourself.
