Major Scale Pattern

One of the key elements to understanding music theory is knowing and memorizing the scale patterns. First we start with the major scale pattern, which is:
whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, whole step, half step

A half step is one key to the very next key, whether it is white or black. A whole step is two half steps, meaning there will be one key between. For example, C to C# is a half step. C to D is a whole step.

This pattern works with any major scale (C, G, D, A, E, B, F#, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb). If you begin with the first note of the scale you are wanting to play and follow the major scale pattern, you can learn to play any of the major scales.