What is the pattern for constructing major scales?

Answer 1

In order to help you with this, I need to explain the concept of "whole steps" and "half steps." (If you already know this, then skip the following paragraph.)

Half steps (H) are between a white key and a black key on a piano (or white key to white key if there's no black key in-between). Whole steps (W) are two half steps (and not always white key to white key).

The pattern would be this:

W W H W W W H

Here's an example:

C: C D E F G A B C

W W H W W W H

There's a whole step between C and D, D and E, F and G, etc as well as a half step between E and F, and B and C.

In other words, there are only a half step between the 3rd and 4th note in an octave, and the 7th and 8th.

Lets say you want the key of G:

G A B C D E F# G

We have to sharpen the F (ie., use a black key) to go up a whole step from the E and to have a half step back to the G.