6. Major Scales

Ivette Herryman Rodriguez; Andre Mount; Jerod Sommerfeldt

6. Major Scales

Sorting Scale Degrees

The table below shows several mixed up scales. Identify each scale by name. (Hint: The pitch letter name of the keynote in each scale is the only one to appear twice.) Then, unscramble the scale by writing the pitch letter names in ascending order from keynote to keynote.

scrambled letter names	key name	ordered letter names
F#, A, G, D, B, C#, E, D	D major	D, E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D
G, B, D, A, G, C, F#, E	G major	G, A, B, C, D, E, F#, G
F, Eb, Ab, Bb, C, Eb, G, D	Eb major	Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, D, Eb
C#, E, A, F#, D, B, A, G#	A major	A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G#, A
Bb, F, G, C, F, A, E, D	F major	F, G, A, Bb, C, D, E, F
Eb, Bb, C, F, Bb, D, A, G	Bb major	Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G, A, Bb
F, C, D, G, C, E, B, A	C major	C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C

Spelling Major Scales Using Step Size Pattern

Each of the exercises below presents the keynote of a different major scale. Complete each scale by using all seven letter names and by following the whole-step/half-step pattern shared by all major scales.

Spelling Upper Tetrachords

Each of the exercises below provides the lower tetrachord (the first four notes) of a different major scale. Complete the scale by writing in the upper tetrachord (the next four notes). Then, identify the name of the scale.

Scale name:
Db major

Scale name:

D major

Scale name:

A major

Scale name:

Eb major

Scale name:

F# major

Scale name:

F major

Scale name:

Bb major

Spelling Lower Tetrachords

Each of the exercises below provides the upper tetrachord (the last four notes) of a different major scale. Complete the scale by writing in the lower tetrachord (the first four notes). Then, identify the name of the scale.

Scale name:
Gb major

Scale name:

G major

Scale name:

Ab major

Scale name:

B major

Scale name:

C major

Scale name:

E major

Scale name:

C# major

Scale Degree Numbers, Solfège Syllable, and Scale Degree Names

Circle the specified scale degree in each of the following major scales.

Circle solfège syllable re in the following major scale:

Circle scale degree [latex]\hat4[/latex] in the following major scale:

Circle solfège syllable la in the following major scale:

Circle the mediant in the following major scale:

Circle scale degree [latex]\hat6[/latex] in the following major scale:

Circle solfège syllable fa in the following major scale:

Circle the leading tone in the following major scale:

Circle scale degree [latex]\hat5[/latex] in the following major scale:

Circle solfège syllable mi in the following major scale:

Circle the supertonic in the following major scale:

Circle scale degree [latex]\hat7[/latex] in the following major scale:

Circle solfège syllable so in the following major scale:

Circle the submediant in the following major scale:

Completing Scales Around One Note

Each of the following exercises provides a single note and indicates its degree in a major scale. Complete each scale by writing in the remaining notes. Additionally, specify the corresponding solfège syllable and name for the given scale degree.

Composing Using Major Scales

Each exercise below presents the beginning and ending of a short melody. Complete each exercise by first identifying the major scale at hand. (Hint: Each note is labeled with the corresponding scale degree number.) Then, using the notes of that major scale, compose the middle portion of the melody. Make sure that all the notes are within the given instrument’s range.