Let’s go step by step to complete each white key major scale by adding the correct sharps or flats.
We’ll use the major scale pattern:
Whole - Whole - Half - Whole - Whole - Whole - Half
(W-W-H-W-W-W-H)
A “whole” step = 2 half steps (like from C to D)
A “half” step = 1 half step (like from E to F, or B to C — no black keys between them)
---
1. D MAJOR
Start on D. Let’s build the scale using W-W-H-W-W-W-H.
- D → E (W)
✔
- E → F# (W) ← must be F#, because E to F is only a half step! So we raise F to F#.
- F# → G (H)
✔ (F# to G is a half step)
- G → A (W)
✔
- A → B (W)
✔
- B → C# (W) ← B to C is half step, so we need C# to make it whole
- C# → D (H)
✔
So D Major has
F# and C#
→ Add sharp symbols before F and C on the staff.
---
2. G MAJOR
Start on G.
- G → A (W)
✔
- A → B (W)
✔
- B → C (H)
✔ (B to C is naturally a half step)
- C → D (W)
✔
- D → E (W)
✔
- E → F# (W) ← E to F is half step, so raise F to F#
- F# → G (H)
✔
G Major has
F#
→ Add sharp before F.
---
3. C MAJOR
Start on C.
- C → D (W)
✔
- D → E (W)
✔
- E → F (H)
✔ (natural half step)
- F → G (W)
✔
- G → A (W)
✔
- A → B (W)
✔
- B → C (H)
✔
C Major has
no sharps or flats — all white keys!
→ Nothing to add.
---
4. E MAJOR
Start on E.
- E → F# (W) ← E to F is half step, so raise F to F#
- F# → G# (W) ← F# to G is half step, so raise G to G#
- G# → A (H)
✔ (G# to A is half step)
- A → B (W)
✔
- B → C# (W) ← B to C is half step, so raise C to C#
- C# → D# (W) ← C# to D is half step, so raise D to D#
- D# → E (H)
✔
E Major has
F#, G#, C#, D#
→ Add sharps before F, G, C, D.
---
5. F MAJOR
Start on F.
- F → G (W)
✔
- G → A (W)
✔
- A → Bb (H) ← A to B is whole step, but we need half step here → lower B to Bb
- Bb → C (W)
✔
- C → D (W)
✔
- D → E (W)
✔
- E → F (H)
✔
F Major has
Bb
→ Add flat before B.
---
6. B MAJOR
Start on B.
- B → C# (W) ← B to C is half step → raise C to C#
- C# → D# (W) ← C# to D is half step → raise D to D#
- D# → E (H)
✔ (D# to E is half step)
- E → F# (W) ← E to F is half step → raise F to F#
- F# → G# (W) ← F# to G is half step → raise G to G#
- G# → A# (W) ← G# to A is half step → raise A to A#
- A# → B (H)
✔
B Major has
C#, D#, F#, G#, A#
→ Add sharps before C, D, F, G, A.
---
Final Answer:
D MAJOR: Add ♯ to F and C
G MAJOR: Add ♯ to F
C MAJOR: No accidentals needed
E MAJOR: Add ♯ to F, G, C, D
F MAJOR: Add ♭ to B
B MAJOR: Add ♯ to C, D, F, G, A
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of scale theory worksheet.
