Scale reference

E major scale

E – F♯ – G♯ – A – B – C♯ – D♯

The E major scale runs E, F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯, D♯ and then back to E. 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 4 sharps.

The notes

E major scale ascending, written with its key signature — the sharps at the start apply to every note on those letters.

The E major scale on the keyboard, from E up to E. The tonic is the darker key.

The step pattern

Every major scale uses the same sequence of steps. Change the starting note and the pattern is what you keep.

E1
tone
F♯2
tone
G♯3
semi
A4
tone
B5
tone
C♯6
tone
D♯7
semi
E8

Semitone steps fall between degrees 3–4 and 7–8.

Play it, then move it

The explorer starts on E major. Press play to hear it, touch any key, then change the starting note and watch the same pattern force different black keys. Switch to natural minor to hear the parallel minor on the same tonic.

Scale degrees

Degree	Note	Name	Interval from E	Semitones
1	E	Tonic	Perfect unison	0
2	F♯	Supertonic	Major second	2
3	G♯	Mediant	Major third	4
4	A	Subdominant	Perfect fourth	5
5	B	Dominant	Perfect fifth	7
6	C♯	Submediant	Major sixth	9
7	D♯	Leading tone	Major seventh	11

Key signature

E major is the scale of the key of E major, which has 4 sharps. The key page lists the seven chords built on these notes.