Building other major scales

Now let’s construct a “C” scale using the “Two whole-steps and a half, three whole-steps and a half” pattern.
C to D to E make up our first two whole-steps. Now E to F is our first half-step and followed by F to G to A to B as our next three whole-steps and final it out with a half-step of B to C. CDEFGABC. This makes an octave, meaning the interval of 8 tones. Our “C” scale ended on the octave above the C note it started with or it began on a C note an octave below where it ended.

Note the scales below that are all major scales and used in Bluegrass:

G: GABCDEF#G
A: ABC#DEF#G#A
B: BC#D#EF#G#A#B
C: CDEFGABC
D: DEF#GABC#D
E: EF#G#ABC#D#E
And a couple of major scales using Flats rather than Sharps:
F: FGABbCDEF
Bb: BbCDEbFGABb

Now practice building scales in different key signatures with your instrument of choice or build the scales on paper. It’s better if you use an instrument since your “ear training” will develop faster.

Did you notice that the Key of G has one sharp?
The Key of F, one flat?

How many sharps in the Key of E?

How many flats in Ab?
If you said 4, you are correct. Count them.
Ab: AbBbCDbEbFGAb (Ab, Bb, Db, Eb)