Scale Theory

​Clock Diagram, Intervals

​Intervals: Tone, Semitone

​Interval : Distance between 2 notes.
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Semitone : Interval between two adjacent notes. The next note in the clock is a semitone.

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Tone : Interval between two alternate notes. The next-to-next notes in the clock is a tone.

​Notes on a Guitar

​Notes on a Piano

​Major Scale Formula

​The major scale is one of the most commonly used musical scales, especially in Western music.

It is constructed using the following formula:

T - T - ST - T - T - T - ST

Where T stands for a Tone and ST is a Semitone.

The first note is called the "Root Note"

For e.g in C Major scale, the first note is "C", hence C become root note. Scale is named after Root Note only.

This formulas is only for Major Scale

​Constructing C Major Scale

​Let's construct the C Major scale using the formula:

T - T - ST - T - T - T - ST

This means if we start on C, we must go up 2 adjacent notes to get to the next note, which is D. That’s the first “whole” and let’s follow the whole formula through:

T: C to D

T: C to E

ST: E to F

T: F to G

T: G to A

T: A to B

ST: B to C – Note that you’re back where you started at C.

If you didn’t get back there, something would have been wrong.

The final C major scale is:

C, D, E, F, G, A, B

​Constructing G Major Scale

Let's construct the G Major scale using the formula:

T - T - ST - T - T - T - ST

This means if we start on G, we must go up 2 adjacent notes to get to the next note, which is A. That’s the first “whole” and let’s follow the whole formula through:

T: G to A

T: A to B

ST: B to C

T: C to D

T: D to E

T: E to F^#

ST: B to C – Note that you’re back where you started at C.

If you didn’t get back there, something would have been wrong.

The final C major scale is:

G, A, B, C, D, E, F^#

​All Major Scales

Major scale with no sharp or flat:

C Major Scale: C – D – E – F – G – A – B – C

Major scales with sharps:

G Major Scale: G – A – B – C – D – E – F♯ – G
D Major Scale: D – E – F♯ – G – A – B – C♯ – D
A Major Scale: A – B – C♯ – D – E – F♯ – G♯ – A
E Major Scale: E – F♯ – G♯ – A – B – C♯ – D♯ – E

Major scales with flats:

F Major Scale: F – G – A – B♭ – C – D – E – F
B Flat Major Scale: B♭ – C – D – E♭ – F – G – A – B♭
E Flat Major Scale: E♭ – F – G – A♭ – B♭ – C – D – E♭
A Flat Major Scale: A♭ – B♭ – C – D♭ – E♭ – F – G – A♭

Enharmonic Major Scales are scales that have the same pitches but have different note names:

B Major Scale: B – C♯ – D♯ – E – F♯ – G♯ – A♯ – B
C Flat Major Scale: C♭ – D♭ – E♭ – F♭ – G♭ – A♭ – B♭ – C♭

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F Sharp Major Scale: F♯ – G♯ – A♯ – B – C♯ – D♯ – E♯ – F♯
G Flat Major Scale: G♭ – A♭ – B♭ – C♭ – D♭ – E♭ – F – G♭

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C Sharp Major Scale: C♯ – D♯ – E♯ – F♯ – G♯ – A♯ – B♯ – C♯
D Flat Major Scale: D♭ – E♭ – F – G♭ – A♭ – B♭ – C – D♭

​Minor Scale Formula

​A natural minor scale is constructed using the following formula:

T - ST - T - T - ST - T - T

Where T or stands for a Tone and ST is a Semitone.

​Constructing C Minor Scale

​Let's construct the C minor scale using the formula:

T - ST - T - T - ST - T - T

This means if we start on C, we must go up 2 adjacent notes to get to the next note, which is D. That’s the first “whole” and let’s follow the whole formula through:

T: C to D

ST: D to D#

T: D# to F

T: F to G

ST: G to G#

T: G# to A#

T: A# to C – Note that you’re back where you started at C.

If you didn’t get back there, something would have been wrong.

The final C minor scale is:

C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭

​Constructing G Minor Scale

​Let's construct the G minor scale using the formula:

T - ST - T - T - ST - T - T

This means if we start on G, we must go up 2 adjacent notes to get to the next note, which is A. That’s the first “whole” and let’s follow the whole formula through:

T: G to A

ST: A to B♭

T: B♭ to C

T: C to D

ST: D to E♭

T: E♭ to F

T: F to G – Note that you’re back where you started at G.

If you didn’t get back there, something would have been wrong.

The final G minor scale is:

G, A, B♭, C, D, E♭, F

​All Minor Scales

​Natural minor scale with no sharp or flat:

A Minor Scale: A – B – C – D – E – F – G – A

Natural minor scales with sharps:

E Minor Scale: E – F♯ – G – A – B – C – D – E
B Minor Scale: B – C♯ – D – E – F♯ – G – A – B
F Sharp Minor Scale: F♯ – G♯ – A – B – C♯ – D – E – F♯
C Sharp Minor Scale: C♯ – D♯ – E – F♯ – G♯ – A – B – C♯

Enharmonic Minor Scales are scales that have the same pitches but different note names:

G Sharp Minor Scale: G♯ – A♯ – B – C♯ – D♯ – E – F♯ – G♯
A Flat Minor Scale: A♭ – B♭ – C♭ – D♭ – E♭ – F♭ – G♭ – A♭

D Sharp Minor Scale: D♯ – E♯ – F♯ – G♯ – A♯ – B – C♯ – D♯
E Flat Minor Scale: E♭ – F – G♭ – A♭ – B♭ – C♭ – D♭ – E♭

A Sharp Minor Scale: A♯ – B♯ – C♯ – D♯ – E♯ – F♯ – G♯ – A♯
B Flat Minor Scale: B♭ – C – D♭ – E♭ – F – G♭ – A♭ – B♭

Natural minor scales with flats:

F Minor Scale: F – G – A♭ – B♭ – C – D♭ – E♭ – F
C Minor Scale: C – D – E♭ – F – G – A♭ – B♭ – C
G Minor Scale: G – A – B♭ – C – D – E♭ – F – G
D Minor Scale: D – E – F – G – A – B♭ – C – D