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2.1 · Major Scale

Whole & half steps

The major scale is built from just two moves: the half step (one semitone, the very next key) and the whole step (two semitones, skipping one key).

Two sizes of step

A half step lands on the very next key. Sometimes white to black, sometimes white to white (the Big Cats Eat Fish pairs). A whole step skips exactly one key. Steps travel both ways, up or down.

Game · Measure the step

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Tap the key a whole step up from

Tap the colored tag to hear the start key and see it light up.

Quiz

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A whole step is how many semitones?

Score 100% on every quiz and game to complete this lesson.The major scale recipe →