As a flute player, mastering the flute major scales is essential. They are the foundation of Western music, and learning them will enable you to play countless songs, melodies, and pieces. In this article, we will guide you through everything you need to know about flute major scales. From the basics to the advanced techniques and fingerings. Click here to download the PDF of the flute major scales.
Introduction to Major Scales
In Western music, the major scale is the foundation of all melodies and harmonies. It is a sequence of eight notes, arranged in a specific pattern of whole and half steps. The major scale is built on a particular tonic, or root note, and has a distinct sound and character. There are twelve major scales, each starting on a different note, and each with its own unique tonality. These notes are assigned different names:
| Degree name | Solfege Syllable | Example (G major) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Tonic | Do | G |
| 2nd | Supertonic | Re | A |
| 3rd | Mediant | Mi | B |
| 4th | Subdominant | Fa | C |
| 5th | Dominant | Sol | D |
| 6th | Submediant | La | E |
| 7th | Leading tone | Si/Ti | F# |
| 8th | Tonic | Do | G |
List of 15 flute major scale
- C Major (natural)
- G Major (one sharp) – also known as “G major with one sharp”
- D Major (two sharps) – also known as “D major with two sharps”
- A Major (three sharps) – also known as “A major with three sharps”
- E Major (four sharps) – also known as “E major with four sharps”
- B Major (five sharps) – also known as “B major with five sharps”
- F# Major (six sharps) – also known as “F sharp major with six sharps”
- C# Major (seven sharps) – also known as “C sharp major with seven sharps”
- F Major (one flat) – also known as “F major with one flat”
- Bb Major (two flats) – also known as “B flat major with two flats”
- Eb Major (three flats) – also known as “E flat major with three flats”
- Ab Major (four flats) – also known as “A flat major with four flats”
- Db Major (five flats) – also known as “D flat major with five flats”
- Gb Major (six flats) – also known as “G flat major with six flats”
- Cb Major (seven flats) – also known as “C flat major with seven flats”
Flute major scales with finger chart
Now that you have an idea of major flute scales, let’s look at how to play them. In this section, we will go through each major scale, starting with C Major.
C Major Scale
C Major is the simplest and most common major scale. It has no sharps or flats, and its sequence of notes is: C D E F G A B C. To play the C Major scale on the flute, use the chart below:
G Major Scale
G Major is another common major scale. It has one sharp, which is F#, and its sequence of notes is: G A B C D E F# G. To play the G Major scale on the flute, follow these charts below:
D Major Scale
D Major is a slightly more advanced major scale. It has two sharps, which are F# and C#, and its sequence of notes is: D E F# G A B C# D. To play the D Major scale on the flute, follow these charts below:
A Major Scale
A Major is another challenging major scale. It has three sharps, which are F#, C#, and G#, and its sequence of notes is: A B C# D E F# G# A. To play the A Major scale on the flute, follow these charts below:
E Major Scale
E Major is a challenging major scale that has four sharps, which are F#, C#, G#, and D#. Its sequence of notes is: E F# G# A B C# D# E. To play the E Major scale on the flute, follow these charts below:
B Major Scale
B Major is a challenging major scale that has five sharps, which are F#, C#, G#, D# and A#. Its sequence of notes is: B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A#, B. To play the B Major scale on the flute, follow these charts below:
F# Major Scale
F# Major is a challenging major scale that has six sharps, which are F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, and E#. Its sequence of notes is: F#, G#, A#, B, C#, D#, E#, F#. To play the F# Major scale on the flute, follow these charts below:
C# Major Scale
C# Major is a challenging major scale that has seven sharps, which are F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E# and B#. Its sequence of notes is: C#, D#, E#, F#, G#, A#, B#, C#. To play the C# Major scale on the flute, follow these charts below:
F Major Scale
F Major is a challenging major scale that has one flat, which is Bb. Its sequence of notes is: F G A Bb C D E F. To play the F Major scale on the flute, follow these charts below:
B-flat (Bb) Major Scale
Bb Major is a challenging major scale that has two flats, which are Bb and Eb. Its sequence of notes is: Bb C D Eb F G A Bb. To play the Bb Major scale on the flute, follow these charts below:
E-flat (Eb) Major Scale
Eb Major is a challenging major scale that has three flats, which are Bb, Eb, and Ab. Its sequence of notes is: Eb F G Ab Bb C D Eb. To play the Eb Major scale on the flute, follow these charts below:
A-flat (Ab) Major Scale
Ab Major is a challenging major scale that has four flats, which are Bb, Eb, Ab, and Db. Its sequence of notes is: Ab Bb C Db Eb F G Ab. To play the Ab Major scale on the flute, follow these charts below:
D-flat (Db) Major Scale
Db Major is a challenging major scale that has five flats, which are Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, and Gb. Its sequence of notes is: Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C Db. To play the Db Major scale on the flute, follow these charts below:
G-flat (Gb) Major Scale
Gb Major is a challenging major scale that has six flats, which are Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, and Cb. Its sequence of notes is: Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F Gb. To play the Gb Major scale on the flute, follow these charts below:
C-flat (Cb) Major Scale
Cb Major is a challenging major scale that has seven flats, which are Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb, and Fb. Its sequence of notes is: Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Ab Bb Cb. To play the Cb Major scale on the flute, follow these charts below:
Understanding Flute Scales
As a flute player, you will encounter many types of scales. In addition to major scales, there are minor scales, pentatonic scales, blues scales, and more. However, major scales are the most fundamental and essential. They are the building blocks of music theory, and understanding them will help you to play a wide variety of songs and styles.
Benefits of Learning Flute Major Scales
Learning flute major scales has many benefits. Firstly, it will help you to develop your technique and finger dexterity. Playing scales is an excellent way to warm up before practicing, and it will help you to develop muscle memory and coordination.
Secondly, learning major scales will help you to understand music theory. You will learn about key signatures, tonality, and chord progressions, which will enable you to read sheet music and play with other musicians. Finally, mastering major scales will give you a sense of accomplishment and confidence in your playing.