You are building a major scale starting on G. You reach the 7th scale degree and the W-W-H-W-W-W-H pattern requires a whole step from the 6th degree (E). Which note must you use?
AF natural, because major scales should use as many natural notes as possible
BF♯, because the pattern requires a whole step from E, and F natural is only a half step above E
CEither F or F♯ — the choice is left to the performer's preference
DF♯ only when playing in a sharp key; F natural when playing in a flat key
E to F natural is a half step (they are adjacent semitones). The W-W-H-W-W-W-H pattern requires a whole step between scale degrees 6 and 7, so F must be raised to F♯ to produce the required whole step (E to F♯ = 2 semitones). The sharp is not optional — it is required by the interval pattern. Deviating from the pattern would produce a different scale quality, not G major.
Question 2 Multiple Choice
A melody written in C major is transposed to G major. Why does the transposed melody sound like 'the same melody'?
ABecause both scales use mostly white keys on the piano
BBecause the interval relationships between consecutive notes are preserved — the internal structure of the scale is identical
CBecause both melodies are in the same register and tempo
DBecause C and G are closely related keys and share many of the same pitches
Transposition preserves all intervallic relationships within the melody. Since every major scale has the identical W-W-H-W-W-W-H pattern, the distance between any two scale degrees is the same in C major and G major. The melody's shape — the sequence of ups and downs, steps and leaps — is entirely preserved; only the absolute pitch level changes. This is why the major scale's character comes from its interval pattern, not from any particular set of pitches.
Question 3 True / False
All major scales share the same interval pattern (W-W-H-W-W-W-H), regardless of their starting note.
TTrue
FFalse
Answer: True
This is the defining property of major scales. The W-W-H-W-W-W-H pattern is what makes a scale 'major' — not which specific pitches it contains. C major, G major, D♭ major, and every other major scale all have this identical internal structure. The pitches differ, and some require sharps or flats, but the pattern of whole and half steps is invariant. A scale with a different interval pattern would be a different scale quality (minor, dorian, etc.).
Question 4 True / False
C major is unique among major scales because it is the main one that follows the W-W-H-W-W-W-H pattern without requiring any sharps or flats.
TTrue
FFalse
Answer: False
The statement is almost right, but contains a critical error: C major is NOT unique because it follows a different pattern — ALL major scales follow the same W-W-H-W-W-W-H pattern. C major is simply the one that happens to land on all natural notes when applied starting from C. Other major scales require sharps or flats to maintain the same pattern starting from different roots. The pattern is universal; the all-natural coincidence of C major is a consequence of where C sits on the chromatic scale.
Question 5 Short Answer
Why are sharps or flats required when constructing major scales that start on notes other than C?
Think about your answer, then reveal below.
Model answer: The W-W-H-W-W-W-H pattern specifies exact distances in semitones between adjacent scale degrees. Starting from any note other than C, applying these distances will eventually land on a note that is a semitone away from the next natural letter name when a whole step is required, or on a note that is a whole step away when only a half step is needed. Raising or lowering those notes by a half step (with a sharp or flat) corrects the distance to match the required pattern. The accidentals are not adjustments to a 'standard' — they are the result of faithfully applying the universal interval template to a different starting pitch.
G major, for example, reaches F when the 7th scale degree should be a whole step above E. Since E to F is only a half step, F must become F♯. This is not a stylistic choice; it is mathematically required by the interval pattern. The key signature system codifies which accidentals are required for each major scale.