Editing Major scale (section)

{{Short description|Musical scale made of seven notes}}
{{More citations needed|date=November 2012}}
{{Infobox musical scale
|name=Major scale|first_pitch=[[unison (music)|C]]|second_pitch=[[major second|D]]|third_pitch=[[major third|E]]|fourth_pitch=[[perfect fourth|F]]|fifth_pitch=[[perfect fifth|G]]|sixth_pitch=[[major sixth|A]]|seventh_pitch=[[major seventh|B]]
|pitch_classes=7|modes=[[Ionian mode|I]], [[Dorian mode|II]], [[Phrygian mode|III]], [[Lydian mode|IV]], [[Mixolydian mode|V]], [[Aeolian mode|VI]], [[Locrian mode|VII]]
|Forte number=7&ndash;35
|complement=5&ndash;35|qualities=[[Maximal evenness]]
}}
[[File:Major scale1.jpg|thumb|Major scales beginning with white keys]]
The '''major scale''' (or [[Ionian mode]]) is one of the most commonly used [[Scale (music)|musical scales]], especially in [[Western culture#Music|Western music]]. It is one of the [[diatonic scale]]s. Like many musical scales, it is made up of seven [[Musical note|note]]s: the eighth duplicates the first at double its [[frequency]] so that it is called a higher [[octave]] of the same note (from Latin "octavus", the eighth).

The simplest major scale to [[Musical notation#Modern musical notation|write]] is [[C major]], the only major scale not requiring [[Sharp (music)|sharp]]s or [[Flat (music)|flat]]s:

{{block indent|<score sound="1"> {
\override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f
\relative c' { 
  \clef treble \time 7/4
  c4 d e f g a b c
} }
</score>}}

The major scale has a central importance in Western music, particularly that of the [[common practice period]] and in [[popular music]].

In [[Carnatic music]], it is known as ''[[Sankarabharanam (raga)|Sankarabharanam]]''. In [[Hindustani classical music]], it is known as ''[[Bilaval]]''.