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 solfège these notes correspond to the syllables "Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti/Si, (Do)", the "Do" in the parenthesis at the end being the octave of the tonic starting pitch. The simplest major scale to write is C major as it is the only major scale not to require sharps or flats, using only the white keys on the piano:
C major scale
In rock and popular music examples of songs in Ionian include REO Speedwagon's "Take It on the Run", The Shirelles' "Will You Love Me Tomorrow", Gordon Lightfoot's "Carefree Highway", and Gin Blossoms' "Follow You Down".
Read more about Major Scale: Structure, Harmonic Properties
Famous quotes containing the words major and/or scale:
“Inanimate objects are classified scientifically into three major categories—those that don’t work, those that break down and those that get lost.”
—Russell Baker (b. 1925)
“How many women does one need to sing the scale of love all the way up and down?”
—Georg Büchner (1813–1837)