major scale

major scale
a scale consisting of a series of whole steps except for half steps between the third and fourth and seventh and eighth degrees. Also called major mode.
[1865-70]

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music
      in music, stepped arrangement of notes following the classical Greek Ionian mode (though mistaken nomenclature in the 16th century has since caused it to be referred to as the Lydian mode). In a major scale the intervals between successive notes after the first are tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone, tone, semitone. Thus, the major scale of D is D–E–F♯–G–A–B–c♯–d, and the same notes descending.

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  • Major scale — Major scales In music theory, the major scale or Ionian scale is one of the diatonic scales. It is made up of seven distinct notes, plus an eighth which duplicates the first an octave higher. In solfege these notes correspond to the syllables Do …   Wikipedia

  • Major scale — Major Ma jor, [L. major, compar. of magnus great: cf. F. majeur. Cf. {Master}, {Mayor}, {Magnitude}, {More}, a.] 1. Greater in number, quantity, or extent; as, the major part of the assembly; the major part of the revenue; the major part of the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • major scale — major diatonic scale major diatonic scale n. (Mus.), The natural diatonic scale, which has semitones between the third and fourth, and seventh and eighth notes, and whole tones between the other notes; the scale of the major mode, of which the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • major scale — n. Music any of the diatonic scales having the eight tones succeeding by whole tones but with a semitone between the third and fourth and seventh and eighth tones: there are twelve major scales, one in each key …   English World dictionary

  • major scale — noun a diatonic scale with notes separated by whole tones except for the 3rd and 4th and 7th and 8th • Syn: ↑major diatonic scale • Hypernyms: ↑mode, ↑musical mode • Hyponyms: ↑C major, ↑C major scale, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • major scale — noun One of the diatonic scales; a group of notes or musical pitches in a particular pattern, used to make melodies. The pattern for a major scale is: tone tone semitone tone tone tone semitone. :In the key of C Major, this produces a scale with… …   Wiktionary

  • major scale — /ˈmeɪdʒə skeɪl/ (say mayjuh skayl) noun a musical scale whose third tone forms a major third with the root …  

  • major scale — ma′jor scale′ n. mad a musical scale consisting of a series of whole steps except for half steps between the third and fourth and seventh and eighth degrees • Etymology: 1865–70 …   From formal English to slang

  • major scale — musical scale made up of eight notes (Music) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • Harmonic major scale — In music theory, the harmonic major scale is a musical scale which found occasional use during the common practice era and is now often employed, particularly in jazz. It may be considered as a major scale with the sixth degree flattened, or the… …   Wikipedia

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