A Ionian (major)
A diatonic mode with a major 3rd and major 7th; a stable major sound.
Octaves
Musical context
How the scale relates to the chord, mode, key and progression.
Theory
General info
- Name
- A Ionian (major)
- Family
- Diatonic scales
- Note count
- 7
- Step formula
- W – W – H – W – W – W – H
- Numeric formula
- 0-2-2-1-2-2-2-1
Notes & degrees
1Aroot
2Bmajor 2nd
3C#major 3rd
4Dperfect 4th
5Eperfect 5th
6F#major 6th
7G#major 7th
Construction
- Overview
- A diatonic mode with a major 3rd and major 7th; a stable major sound.
- Application in music
- Identical to the natural major scale and forms the modal basis of a major key.
- Interval formula
- AWBWC#HDWEWF#WG#
Chords by degree
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
IApoint of resttonic
IIIC#defines modal qualitythird
VEsupports the tonic sonorityfifth
Typical resolutions & tensions
VIIG#G#
IAA
In typical voice leading, the leading tone rises by semitone to tonic.
IIIC#C#
IVDD
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
IAA
IIBB
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.
This scale on guitar 🎸
See how A Ionian (major) looks on guitar.
Circle of fifths
The major key on the same tonic and its neighbouring keys on the circle of fifths.
Connections
Practice
Keyboard Trainer
Reinforce it in practice — play and name notes on the interactive keyboard.