Take some time to review material below, then move to the next slide to practice your knowledge of scales with an interactive exercise.

Scales are sets of notes.

The formula for all major scales is W W H W W W.

In scale formulas, "H" means the next note is a "half step" (1 key) to the right of the previous note.

In scale formulas, "W" means the next note is a "whole step" (2 keys) to the right of the previous note.

Though scale formulas define the notes of a scale in a particular order, you are free to play the notes in any order you like.

A scale degree is the number of a note in a scale, in ascending order, starting from 1.

The 1st degree of a scale generally sounds stable and "like home."

The major-scale-relative formula for all natural minor scales (also simply called minor scales) is 1, 2, 3♭, 4, 5, 6♭, 7♭.

The C major scale consists of the notes C, D, E, F, G, A, B.

The C natural minor scale (a.k.a. the C minor scale) consists of the notes C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭.