The major scale formula

The pattern

The major scale is defined by this sequence of intervals from its root:

W — W — H — W — W — W — H

Where W = whole step (2 frets) and H = half step (1 fret).

That’s the whole secret. Apply this pattern starting from any note and you get a major scale.

Derive C major

Start on C and apply the formula:

Step	From → To	Distance	Note
1 (root)	—	—	C
2	C → D	W	D
3	D → E	W	E
4	E → F	H	F
5	F → G	W	G
6	G → A	W	A
7	A → B	W	B
8 (oct)	B → C	H	C

C major: C D E F G A B. No sharps, no flats. The simplest scale to read.

Derive G major

Same formula, root on G:

Step	From → To	Distance	Note
1	—	—	G
2	G → A	W	A
3	A → B	W	B
4	B → C	H	C
5	C → D	W	D
6	D → E	W	E
7	E → F♯	W	F♯
8	F♯ → G	H	G

G major: G A B C D E F♯. One sharp. Notice we had to use F♯, not G♭ — because the scale must use each letter once.

The sharp/flat keys

Apply the formula starting on every note and you’ll always end up with either:

• All naturals (C major), or
• Some sharps (G, D, A, E, B, F♯, C♯ majors — increasing), or
• Some flats (F, B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭ majors — increasing)

The Circle of Fifths organises these — see the Circle of Fifths.

On the fretboard

The numbers are scale degrees: 1 is C (the root), 2 is D, 3 is E, etc. You’ll use these labels constantly from here on.

Try this

Pick any note. Without looking anything up, derive that note’s major scale using the W-W-H-W-W-W-H formula. Write the seven notes down. Check yourself by looking it up afterwards.

Do this for five different starting notes. You’ll have a sense of the major scale that no chart can give you.