Major Scales Chart printable pdf download

Major Scales

C major scale

R.H.

L.H.

You should notice the pattern of whole steps and half steps that make the C major scale.

It is this pattern which gives the scale its particular sound.

The C scale is the only scale where this pattern (W W H W W W H) occurs naturally with

the use of only white keys. To create this pattern starting on any other note, it is

necessary to add either sharps # or flats b. There is a definite pattern to the way sharps

and flats are added to the scales, and when you understand this pattern, it will be easy to

memorize the different scales and their key signatures. A key signature is the name of

the sharps or flats of a particular scale.

This pattern is based on the interval of a 5

. Ex. The C scale has no flats and no sharps.

The 5

note of the C scale is ___, which will have one sharp. The 5

note of this scale

will have two sharps, and the 5

note of that scale will have three sharps etc…

Starting with C. List the scales and the number of sharps to the left.

Scale

# of sharps

Name of sharps

_____

___________

_____

___________

_____

___________

_____

___________

_____

___________

_____

___________

The sharps themselves also have a pattern. When you figure out the sharps, you will

notice that they are also based on the interval of a 5

, but this is not the easiest way to

remember them. Here is the rule: The new sharp is always the next to the last note of

the scale. So, for the G scale, the sharp is F#. For the D scale, this sharp is carried over,

and a new one is added. You continue this process for each new scale. Take time now

Major Scales Chart