Major Scale

The major scale is the basis of music theory. Melodies, harmonies, chords and chord progressions are all derived from the major scale.

The traditional fingerings for the major scale are based around the 5 pentatonic positions (one position for each of the 5 notes of the pentatonic scale).

Play just the black notes in the following diagrams for a pentatonic scale and add the white notes to play a major scale. Notice that the pentatonic scale is just a major scale with the semitones left out.