If you’d have to pick something fundamental to the western harmony in music, it would be the major scale. 

You most likely even know it already! If you’ve ever heard the famous Sound of Music song, then you’ve been introduced to the major scale. If you aren’t familiar with the tune, then you can listen to it while you read the rest of the post. 

What Makes the Major Scale Special? 

You might be wondering what is so special about the major scale. The answer is: quite many things. All the other scales will be presented in relation to major scale, so if you want to master playing the guitar, you need to learn the major scale. 

As it is the basis of western harmony, you can’t play many genres without understanding how the major scale works. In fact, many famous songs sound good with the major scale. For example, Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd. 

What is Major Scale? 

To understand the major scale, it is important to understand what a scale is. A scale is simply a group of seven notes, which usually follow each other by the octave of the root note. 

For example, the C major scale is the most common example and the one used in the Sound of Music song. The C major scale looks like this: 

            C – D – E – F – G – A – B – C 

You can also use a scale formula for the major scale. This will help you work out all the notes in specific scale patterns if you just know the starting note, for instance. 

            T          T          S          T          T          T          S

       1         2         3          4          5          6           7         8                          

 T stands for tone (whole step) and S stands for semitone (half step). The numbers one to eight represent the notes. 

The numbers also have names, which are mainly used in classical guitar lessons. These are: 1=tonic/root key, 2=supertonic, 3=mediant, 4=subdominant, 5=dominant, 6=submediant, 7=leading note, 8=octave. 

If you look at the C major scale, you can see it starts with C and moves whole step to D. Then another whole step to E, with a half step from E to F and so on. 

This same patterns works for all major scales – make sure you memorise it! 

Using Chords 

You can also use specific chords in the major scale. For example, if you look at the notes of the C major scale, you can make a set of chords such as triad chords and quadad chords. 

For example, the triad chords you can make by using the notes of the C major scale are: 

 You can build hundreds of chords with the above tips in mind. All you need to know is the major scale you are using and then the different chords you can make. Just start experimenting and you’ll be able to play some amazing solos. 

It is essential to learn the major scale and how it works, as it is the building block of most western harmonies. If you want to be a guitar hero one day, this the theory part you need to nail!