major scale

American  

noun

Music.

1. a scale consisting of a series of whole steps except for half steps between the third and fourth and seventh and eighth degrees.

---

Etymology

Origin of major scale

First recorded in 1865–70

Compare meaning

How does major-scale compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• major scale vs. minor scale

Example Sentences

That puts it on a major scale and, if developed, could see a surface mining-and-processing operation that supports alumina production of some 1.8 million tons a year over a 25-year period.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 29, 2026

I was so happy to see the piece on such a major scale.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 18, 2023

Digging a £1.7bn tunnel near Stonehenge would cause "devastation on a major scale", an archaeologist has warned.

From BBC • Nov. 13, 2020

There are a few locally funded programs around the state, like King County’s mobile medical van, but nothing on a major scale.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 24, 2020

The pattern for the minor scale starts a half step plus a whole step lower than the major scale pattern, so a relative minor is always three half steps lower than its relative major.

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones