Editing Major scale (section)

==Relationship to major keys==
If a piece of music (or part of a piece of music) is in a [[major key]], then the notes in the corresponding major scale are considered ''diatonic'' notes, while the notes ''outside'' the major scale are considered [[Chromaticism|''chromatic'' notes]]. Moreover, the [[key signature]] of the piece of music (or section) will generally reflect the [[Accidental (music)|accidentals]] in the corresponding major scale.

For instance, if a piece of music is in E{{music|flat}} major, then the seven pitches in the E{{music|flat}} major scale (E{{music|flat}}, F, G, A{{music|flat}}, B{{music|flat}}, C and D) are considered diatonic pitches, and the other five pitches (E{{music|natural}}, F{{music|sharp}}/G{{music|flat}}, A{{music|natural}}, B{{music|natural}}, and C{{music|sharp}}/D{{music|flat}}) are considered chromatic pitches. In this case, the key signature will have three flats (B{{music|flat}}, E{{music|flat}}, and A{{music|flat}}).

The figure below shows all 12 relative major and minor keys, with major keys on the outside and minor keys on the inside arranged around the [[circle of fifths]].

{{circle of fifths|state=expanded}}

The numbers inside the circle show the number of sharps or flats in the key signature, with the sharp keys going clockwise, and the flat keys counterclockwise from C major (which has no sharps or flats.) The circular arrangement depends on [[enharmonic]] relationships in the circle, usually reckoned at six sharps or flats for the major keys of F{{music|sharp}} = G{{music|flat}} and D{{music|sharp}} = E{{music|flat}} for minor keys.<ref name="Drabkin">{{cite book|title=The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians|last=Drabkin|first=William|publisher=Macmillan Publishers|year=2001|editor1-last=Sadie|editor1-first=Stanley|editor1-link=Stanley Sadie|edition=2nd|location=London|chapter=Circle of Fifths|editor2-last=Tyrrell|editor2-first=John|editor2-link=John Tyrrell (professor of music)}}</ref> Seven sharps or flats make major keys (C{{music|sharp}} major or C{{music|flat}} major) that may be more conveniently spelled with five flats or sharps (as D{{music|flat}} major or B major).