The Major Guitar Scale

The major guitar scale is the scale that all music revolves around. These seven notes are the building blocks for most every song you hear guitar lead and or riff you hear as well. It is very important that as a guitar player you take the time learn and have a basic understanding of the guitar major scale. It will help you later as you write music, learn the guitar modes and gain an understanding of the guitar fretboard.

So where did the major scale come from. In its simplest form the major scale was created from Gregorian chants. These religious chants soon gave a basis for harmonic tones and as instruments came into being the Ionian mode came into being and that became what is known as the Major scale. The Major scale is still known today as the Ionian mode but is most commonly referred to as the Major scale. For a detailed look into the major scale and other scales guitar scale mastery is one of the best guitar lessons.

Today we identify this scale with the sound of music. Yes a movie. One of the biggest songs from that movie is the major scale. The “doe a deer a female deer, ray a drop of golden sun.” This is the vocal version of the major scale. This scale is not just a guitar scale. The major scale encompasses all music and allows communication between vocals and instruments alike. Take the time to learn the major scale is will aid you learning the guitar fretboard. Use the major scale in songwriting techniques.

Major scale Formula: W-W-H-W-W-W-H

The W & H refer to steps W being a whole step on the fretboard and H being a half step.

The notes of the Major scale: 

C  Major Scale: C    D    E    F    G    A    B
D  Major Scale: D    E    F#   G    A    B    C#
E  Major Scale: E    F#   G#   A    B    C#   D#
F  Major Scale: F    G    A    Bb   C    D    E
G  Major Scale: G    A    B    C    D    E    F#
A  Major Scale: A    B    C#   D    E    F#   G#
B  Major Scale: B    C#   D#   E    F#   G#   A#
C# Major Scale: C#   D#   E#   F#   G#   A#   B#
Eb Major Scale: Eb   F    G    Ab   Bb   C    D
F# Major Scale: F#   G#   A#   B    C#   D#   E#
Ab Major Scale: Ab   Bb   C    Db   Eb   F    G
Bb Major Scale: Bb   C    D    Eb   F    G    A