Major keys and scales. Learn the patterns for writing out any major scale as well as figuring out major key signatures and tonic triads. Suitable for candidates preparing for ABRSM Grade 2 music theory. Tonality is the musical concept of a hierarchy of pitches related to a centre pitch, or tonic. This music theory lesson explains how major keys and scales work. Major scales can begin on any note and always follow the same pattern of tones and semitones - Tone, Tone, Semitone, Tone, Tone, Tone, Semitone. These pitches span an octave, with the first and last note being the tonic. Creating a major scale on C (C, in this case, is the Tonic), the major scale (C major) would consist of the following notes: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C. Creating a major scale on Eb (Eb, in this case, is the Tonic), the major scale (Eb major) would consist of the following notes: Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, D, Eb. Some scales use sharps and some scales use flats. Music that is based on a major scale is said to be 'in' that key. For example, 'in A major', 'in C,ôØ major'. It is likely that for a piece in G major, nearly all F's will be sharp. Instead of writing the accidental in front of every sharp F, we can use a key signature to show that all F's are sharp. We can write a key signature for any scale and key.