The major scale consists of a pattern of [[Half Steps and Whole Steps]] in the following ascending sequence: W–W–H–W–W–W–H. **Example 1** below shows the C major scale, the only scale without any sharps or flats. Whole steps are labeled using W’s and slurs while half steps are labeled using H’s and angled brackets. **Example 1.** C major scale. ![[major scale example 1.png]] ![[major scale example 1.mp3]] ## Scale Degrees A note’s position within a scale is known as its **scale degree**. Scale degrees can be identified using **scale-degree numbers**, written with carets (^) above. Alternatively, we can also identify scale degrees using [[Solfège]], a system that associates each note of the scale with a particular syllable in order to improve [[Audiation]]. **Example 2** below shows the C major scale again, this time with scale-degree numbers labeled above and solfège syllables labeled below. Note that each solfège syllable is synonymous with its corresponding scale-degree number (e.g., *do* = $\hat{1}$, *re* = $\hat{2}$, *mi* = $\hat{3}$, etc.) Also note that the two half steps of the major scale occur between *mi* ($\hat{3}$) and *fa* ($\hat{4}$) and between *ti* ($\hat{7}$) and *do* ($\hat{1}$). This is the case for any major scale. **Example 2.** C major scale with scale-degree numbers and solfège syllables. ![[major scale example 2.png]] ![[major scale example 2.mp3]] ## Scale-Degree Names Given the difficulty of typesetting scale-degree numbers, we generally refer to scale degrees by their traditional **scale-degree names** in academic writing. The table below lists these names alongside their corresponding scale-numbers and solfège syllables. As mentioned above, each name is synonymous with the other names corresponding to the same scale degree. | Scale-Degree Number | Scale-Degree Name | Solfège | | ------------------- | ----------------- | ------- | | $\hat{1}$ | tonic | *do* | | $\hat{2}$ | supertonic | *re* | | $\hat{3}$ | mediant | *mi* | | $\hat{4}$ | subdominant | *fa* | | $\hat{5}$ | dominant | *sol* | | $\hat{6}$ | submediant | *la* | | $\hat{7}$ | leading tone | *ti* |