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Major scales are the foundation of Western music theory—everything from chord progressions to melody construction builds on your understanding of how these scales work. You're being tested not just on which notes belong to which scale, but on why certain scales have sharps, others have flats, and how the circle of fifths organizes all of this into a logical system. Understanding the underlying pattern (W-W-H-W-W-W-H) means you can construct any major scale from any starting note.
The real exam skill here is recognizing relationships: how scales connect to key signatures, why certain instruments favor certain keys, and how the order of sharps and flats follows a predictable sequence. Don't just memorize that G Major has one sharp—know that it's F# because sharps always enter in the same order (F-C-G-D-A-E-B), and that each new sharp scale starts a perfect fifth higher than the last. That conceptual understanding will carry you through any question they throw at you.
Every major scale follows the same interval formula: whole-whole-half-whole-whole-whole-half (W-W-H-W-W-W-H). C Major is the only scale where this pattern falls entirely on white keys, making it the reference point for all other scales.
Each time you move up a perfect fifth (seven half steps) from the previous tonic, you add one sharp to the key signature. Sharps always accumulate in the same order: F#, C#, G#, D#, A#. This predictable pattern means you can determine any sharp key's signature by counting fifths from C.
Compare: G Major vs. D Major—both are sharp keys popular with string instruments, but D Major's two sharps create more opportunities for brilliant orchestral writing while G Major's single sharp makes it more accessible for beginners. If asked to identify a key by its signature, remember: the last sharp is always a half step below the tonic.
Compare: A Major vs. E Major—both are guitar-centric keys with bright sounds, but E Major's four sharps make it slightly more complex to read while remaining physically comfortable on guitar. A Major's three sharps hit a sweet spot between accessibility and tonal richness.
Moving down a perfect fifth (or up a perfect fourth) from C introduces flat keys. Flats accumulate in reverse order from sharps: B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭. Notice this is the sharp order backward—a useful memory trick.
Compare: F Major vs. B♭ Major—both are essential flat keys for wind and brass players, but B♭ Major is the "home key" for B♭ instruments (trumpet, clarinet, tenor sax) while F Major serves as their comfortable sharp-side neighbor. When analyzing band scores, expect these keys to dominate.
| Concept | Best Examples |
|---|---|
| No accidentals (reference scale) | C Major |
| Sharp keys (circle of fifths ascending) | G, D, A, E, B Major |
| Flat keys (circle of fifths descending) | F, B♭ Major |
| Guitar-friendly keys | G, D, A, E Major |
| Brass/wind-friendly keys | F, B♭ Major |
| Order of sharps (F-C-G-D-A-E-B) | G (F#), D (F#-C#), A (F#-C#-G#) |
| Order of flats (B-E-A-D-G-C-F) | F (B♭), B♭ (B♭-E♭) |
| Interval pattern applies to all | W-W-H-W-W-W-H in every major scale |
Pattern recognition: If D Major has F# and C#, what sharp must be added to create A Major, and why is it specifically G#?
Compare and contrast: How do F Major and G Major demonstrate opposite directions on the circle of fifths, and what does each key's single accidental tell you about where half steps fall?
Instrument application: Why do B♭ Major and E♭ Major appear frequently in concert band music while E Major and A Major dominate rock guitar—what's the practical reason for each?
Key signature identification: A piece has three sharps in its key signature. What major key is it in, and how can you quickly determine this using the "last sharp" rule?
FRQ-style synthesis: Explain how the interval pattern W-W-H-W-W-W-H determines which notes must be raised or lowered when building a major scale on any given tonic. Use G Major and F Major as contrasting examples.