Theory I.5: Major Scales

This lesson is about Major Scales.

There are 12 major scale shapes on the keyboard and you need to memorize all of them to flash-card speed.  If you already know (or can quickly learn) C, F, and G, then you only have nine to go.

For a better understanding and to better prepare for how this knowledge will be used, try choosing a scale (Db for instance), and renaming it by its enharmonic equivalent (C# in this example).  Once you have renamed it, go ahead and rename every note in the scale as it relates to the new name:

Example:  Db to C#:

Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C, Db
becomes
C#, D#, E#, F#, G#, A#, B#, C#
or (for the advanced student):
Bx, C#x, D#x, Ex, F#x, G#x, A#x, Bx

Each note on the keyboard (except one) has three enharmonically-equivalent names.

Do you know which one only has 2 names--and can you describe the reason for the missing third name?

Can you name the major scale starting on each of these three-names for each note?

Here is a link to the file mentioned in the video. [Sorry students, this is in the office and I'll have to upload it later.]

Bonus Link:  A different way to think about scales, and some different scales.