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Listen to Example 1 to hear an ascending major scale. Major ScalesĪ major scale is an ordered collection of half- (abbreviated H) and whole steps (abbreviated W) in the following ascending succession: W-W-H-W-W-W-H. All of the major key signatures are placed on a circle in order of number of accidentals.Ī scale is an ordered collection of half and whole steps (see Half and Whole Steps and Accidentals to review).
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In sharp key signatures, the last sharp is a half step below the tonic (the first note of a scale).
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Scale degrees are solmization syllables notated by Arabic numerals with carets above them.Major scales are named for their first note (which is also their last note), including any accidental that applies to the note.A major scale is an ordered collection of half (H) and whole (W) steps with the ascending succession W‑W‑H‑W‑W‑W‑H.
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