What is "major scale"

major diatonic scale \major diatonic scale\ n. (Mus.), The natural diatonic scale, which has semitones between the third and fourth, and seventh and eighth notes, and whole tones between the other notes; the scale of the major mode, of which the third is major; also called major scale. See Scale, and Diatonic.

n. One of the diatonic scales; a group of notes or musical pitches in a particular pattern, used to make melodies. The pattern for a major scale is:

n. a diatonic scale with notes separated by whole tones except for the 3rd and 4th and 7th and 8th [syn: major diatonic scale]

The major scale or Ionian scale is one of the most commonly used musical scales, especially in Western music. It is one of the diatonic scales. Like many musical scales it is made up of seven notes: the eighth duplicates the first at double its frequency so that it is called a higher octave of the same note (from Latin "octavus", the eighth).

The simplest major scale to write is C major, the only major scale not to require sharps or flats:

The major scale had a central importance in European music, particularly in the common practice period and in popular music, owing to the large number of chords that can be formed from it. In Carnatic music, it is known as Dheerasankarabharanam, and in Hindustani classical music it is known as Bilaval.