Major Scale Construction

Question 1

A whole step equals the distance of ________ frets between two notes.

Answer 1

two

Question 2

A half-step is equal to an interval of ______ fret.

Answer 2

one

Question 3

True or False:

A major 2nd is always an interval of a whole step.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

True or False:

A whole step is always a major 2nd.

Answer 4

False!

Firstly, the two notes involved in the interval MUST be consecutive in name.(A to B, B to C, C to D, etc.).

Secondly, the two notes MUST be two frets apart.

Here are examples of intervals which sound the same, but are not the same because they don’t meet each of the two rules shown above.

Question 5

True or False:

A major second is always a whole step.

Answer 5

True!

Question 6

A major scale contains a consecutive series of ____ notes.

Answer 6

eight

do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do

Question 7

The order of intervals for a major scale is

M M m M M M m

If we think of this as a “phone number”, it would be _________________.

Answer 7

2 2 1 - 2 2 2 1

Question 8

When constructing a major (or minor) scale, the FIRST thing you must do is to _____________________________________.

Answer 8

…write out a series of EIGHT consecutive notes, starting and ending with

the note that gives the scale its name. For example:

A B C D E F G A

D E F G A B C D

F G A B C D E F

Question 9

“RULE #2 FOR SCALE CONSTRUCTION”

Once you have your series of eight notes, you must make the interval between each pair of notes match the pre-determined __________ ___ ____________ that applies to that particular scale (either major or minor).

Answer 9

“order of intervals”

(This is the series of whole- and half-steps between each pair of notes.)

Question 10

The order of intervals for a major scale is _______________________.

Answer 10

2 2 1 2 2 2 1

(OR: M2 M2 m2 M2 M2 M2 m2)