Major vs minor scales

When you listen to music, you might notice that some songs sound happy while others feel sad. This difference in mood often comes from the type of scale used in the music. The major and minor scales in Western music are the two most common. A scale in music is a series of notes that go up or down in pitch in a specific pattern.

What is a major scale?​

A major scale is a musical scale that generally sounds happy, bright, and upbeat. It is often used in music that feels joyful or uplifting. The pattern for a major scale is a sequence of steps: whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half. If you start on any note, you follow this pattern to create a major scale. For example, if you start on C (a common starting note because it has no sharp or flat notes), the C major scale would be C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C.

What is a minor scale?​

A minor scale, in contrast, tends to sound sad, serious, or melancholic. It is frequently used in music that conveys darker or more emotional themes. Like the major scale, it also follows a specific pattern of steps, but it's different: whole, half, whole, whole, half, whole, whole. Using the same starting note as before, the C minor scale would be C, D, E-flat, F, G, A-flat, B-flat, C.

Key differences between major and minor scales​

Major and minor scales set different vibes in music. Major scales sound bright and happy because the third note is a step up from the second, making tunes peppy. Minor scales, however, have the third note just a half step up from the second, giving them a sadder feel.