The Major Scale
The major scale is the foundation of Western music — the familiar "do re mi fa sol la ti do." It uses 7 of the 12 notes, selected by the pattern whole-whole-half-whole-whole-whole-half (W-W-H-W-W-W-H).
The Formula
The major scale follows the step pattern W-W-H-W-W-W-H, where W is a whole step (2 semitones) and H is a half step (1 semitone). Starting from C, this gives you C D E F G A B — all the white keys on a piano. As semitone offsets from the root: [0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11].
You can build a major scale starting on any of the 12 notes by following the same pattern. G major gives you G A B C D E F# (one sharp). Bb major gives you Bb C D Eb F G A (two flats). The pattern of whole and half steps is always the same.
Why It Matters
The major scale is the reference point for almost all Western harmony. When musicians say a chord has a "flatted 3rd," they mean the 3rd degree is one semitone lower than it would be in the major scale. Chord names like "major" and "minor" come from whether a chord uses the major 3rd (4 semitones) or the lowered minor 3rd (3 semitones). The entire system of intervals, chord names, and key signatures is built around the major scale.
The major scale sounds bright, happy, and resolved. Songs like "Happy Birthday," "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star," and most nursery rhymes use the major scale. It is the default mode of Western music.
In ChordColor
The major scale is the first option in the scale picker and the default scale when you select a key. When chosen, the instrument display highlights 7 notes and the KEY row shows the diatonic chords: I-ii-iii-IV-V-vi-vii°.