Lesson 9b: Scales

In lesson 9 we learned that each scale has seven consecutive notes following the tonic or 1st degree of the scale and ends with the octave which is the same as the tonic but one ocate higher. If we used just numbers the scale would be:

So we would just add the alphabetical letters between theses notes:

to look like this:

We now have finished the C Major scale. But what about scales that start on other notes than C? We Start the same way.

Then add the alphabetical letters only. Do not worry about anything else.

Next we look at this chart to find if we use sharps(#) or flats(b). We find the first note of our scale and look to see if we use sharps or flat column. Then we look to see the number on the left. This number will tell us how many sharps or flats to use.

Next we look at the following chart to see the order of sharps or flats. The order is always the same! Remember that the C scale has no sharps or flats!

We now add the sharp or flat signs to the notes that the chart tells you. In our case the D scale has sharps(#) and the number is two (2). We see that 2 sharps are always F and C. We now add the Sharp sign to the F and C

We now have the D scale.

That is all there is to it. Three steps:

You now can write any major scale!