Major
(MAY-jer)

Term referring to a sequence of notes that define the tonality of the major scale. This series consists of seven notes: the tonic, followed by the next note a whole step up from the tonic, the third is a whole step from the second, the fourth is a half step from the third, the fifth is a whole step from the fourth, the sixth is a whole step from the fifth, the seventh is another whole step, followed by the tonic, a half step above the seventh. Thus the first and eighth tones are exactly an octave apart.

SCALE STEPS (IN SEMITONES OR HALF STEPS)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
c
 
d
 
e
f
 
g
 
a
 
b
c'
Play Major Scale

More about scales.

SUGGESTED LISTENING EXAMPLES:

Major scale:
Vivaldi: Concerto for Piccolo in C major, I (piccolo entrance)
W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 2, Track 3
Major/minor, alternating:
Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92, II (modulation)
W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 2, Track 51
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