2.3 · Major Scale

Every note has a number

Each note in a scale is numbered 1 through 7, starting from the lowest note. These numbers serve the same function no matter which key you're in.

The scale, numbered

C major, degree by degree, octave included. Pick any home note and the scale rebuilds around it. Shapes mark three degrees: 1 wears the star, 3 the triangle, 5 the pentagon.

Home note · sets the key
The notes of C major · tap a degree to hear it

Every degree has a name tag

Vocabulary

Letters are absolute: C4 is always the same pitch, in any key. Numbers, solfège, and titles are relative: the 1 has a different pitch in different keys.

Home note · sets the key
NoteHzDegreeSolfègeFormal title

Do is home

Climb the scale and stop on 7, and your ear leans hard toward the top. Land on do and the phrase is finished. That pull toward home is what the numbers measure. Both runs climb C major, the key you picked above.

Game · Sing the scale

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Sing C major, bottom to top: degrees 1 up to 8.

You numbered it, now sing it. Climb the scale with your voice, degree by degree.

C · 1 D · 2 E · 3 F · 4 G · 5 A · 6 B · 7 C · 8

Each note plays first. Sing it back and hold it steady to lock it in.

Quiz

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Degree 1 of a scale is called…

Score 100% on every quiz and game to complete this lesson.Distances have names →