Major scale

A MAJOR, or DIATONIC MAJOR SCALE

consists of tones and semitones occuring in this order:
Degrees of the scale:
VIII
semitone
VII
tone
VI
tone
V
tone
IV
semitone
III
tone
II
tone
I

A major scale, or ionian mode, is one of the diatonic scales. It is a series of eight notes (7 different) that follow a definite pattern of whole steps and half steps. Half steps appear only between scale steps 3-4 and 7-8. Every major scale has the same arrangement of whole steps and half steps. The last note in each major scale is the same note as the first only it is an octave higher.

Ab major scale

Ab - Bb - C - Db - Eb - F - G - Ab

A major scale

A - B - C# - D - E - F# - G# - A

Bb major scale

Bb - C - D - Eb - F - G - A - Bb

B major scale

B - C# - D# - E - F# - G# - A# - B

Cb major scale

Cb - Db - Eb - Fb - Gb - Ab - Bb - Cb

C major scale

C - D - E - F - G - A - B - C

C# major scale

C# - D# - E# - F# - G# - A# - B# - C#

Db major scale (same as C# major)

Db - Eb - F - Gb - Ab - Bb - C - Db

D major scale

D - E - F# - G - A - B - C# - D

Eb major scale

Eb - F - G - Ab - Bb - C - D - Eb

E major scale

E - F# - G# - A - B - C# - D# - E

F major scale

F - G - A - Bb - C - D - E - F

F# major scale

F# - G# - A# - B - C# - D# - E# - F#

Gb major scale (same as F# major)

Gb - Ab - Bb - Cb - Db - Eb - F - Gb

G major scale

G - A - B - C - D - E - F# - G

The major scale contains seven modes. They are, from the first up (in the key of C Major):

• Ionian (I) — C D E F G A B C (same as the major)
• Dorian (II) — D E F G A B C D
• Phrygian (III) — E F G A B C D E
• Lydian (IV) — F G A B C D E F
• Mixolydian (V) — G A B C D E F G
• Aeolian (VI) — A B C D E F G A (same as the relative minor)
• Locrian (VII) — B C D E F G A B

The guitar pattern for the scale is:

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The bass pattern for the scale is:

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The piano pattern for the scale is:

C  D  E  F  G  A  B  C
1  2  3  1  2  3  4  5

Source: The Keyboard Grimoire (book), Advanced Scale Concepts and Licks for Guitar (book