Scale reference
A major scale
A – B – C♯ – D – E – F♯ – G♯
The A major scale runs A, B, C♯, D, E, F♯, G♯ and then back to A. It follows the major step pattern — tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone, tone, semitone — which is what makes it major rather than any other kind of scale.
It uses each letter name once, which is why it is written with 3 sharps.
The notes
The step pattern
Every major scale uses the same sequence of steps. Change the starting note and the pattern is what you keep.
- A1tone
- B2tone
- C♯3semi
- D4tone
- E5tone
- F♯6tone
- G♯7semi
- A8
Scale degrees
| Degree | Note | Name | Interval from A | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | Tonic | Perfect unison | 0 |
| 2 | B | Supertonic | Major second | 2 |
| 3 | C♯ | Mediant | Major third | 4 |
| 4 | D | Subdominant | Perfect fourth | 5 |
| 5 | E | Dominant | Perfect fifth | 7 |
| 6 | F♯ | Submediant | Major sixth | 9 |
| 7 | G♯ | Leading tone | Major seventh | 11 |
Key signature
A major is the scale of the key of A major, which has 3 sharps. The key page lists the seven chords built on these notes.