Major Scale Shapes And Basic 7th Chords For Guitar

The major scale (also known as Ionian mode) is one of the most fundamental scales in music and forms the basis for much of Western music theory.

It consists of seven notes arranged in a specific pattern of whole steps (W) and half steps (H), creating a bright, uplifting sound.

The pattern for the major scale is:

Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half (W-W-H-W-W-W-H)

Using the whole and half step pattern, the C major scale has these notes: C – D – E – F – G – A – B – C

Here’s how it breaks down:

C to D: Whole step

D to E: Whole step

E to F: Half step

F to G: Whole step

G to A: Whole step

A to B: Whole step

B to C: Half step

The major scale sets the foundation for chords, chord progressions, and melodies.

In guitar playing, knowing the major scale helps you build chords, understand key signatures, and create solos that fit within a song’s key.