About the F#/Gb Major Scale (Ionian)
The F#/Gb major scale is a 7-note scale. The foundation of Western music theory. Its notes are F#, G#, A#, B, C#, D# and F, built from the formula 1 2 3 4 5 6 7.
- Notes
- F# – G# – A# – B – C# – D# – F
- Formula
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
- Steps
- W W H W W W H (2–2–1–2–2–2–1 semitones)
- Root
- F#/Gb
F#/Gb Major Scale (Ionian) degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | F# | Root |
| 2 | G# | Major 2nd |
| 3 | A# | Major 3rd |
| 4 | B | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | C# | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | D# | Major 6th |
| 7 | F | Major 7th |
Where to play the F#/Gb Major Scale (Ionian) on guitar
Frets 0–12 in standard tuning (E A D G B E), lowest string first. Root notes (F#) are highlighted; the pattern repeats from the 12th fret up.
| String | Frets |
|---|---|
| E2 | 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11 |
| A2 | 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11 |
| D3 | 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11 |
| G3 | 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11 |
| B3 | 0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12 |
| E4 | 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11 |
How to practice the major scale
- Master the 3-note-per-string patterns
- Practice scale sequences (3rds, 4ths)
- Work on position shifts while playing
- Play over I-IV-V progressions
- Focus on resolving to the root note
Scales with the same notes as F#/Gb Major Scale (Ionian)
These scales share every note with the F#/Gb major scale but start from a different root, so the same shapes work over different chords.
Major scale in other keys
Other scales in F#/Gb
- F#/Gb Minor Pentatonic
- F#/Gb Major Pentatonic
- F#/Gb Mixolydian Pentatonic
- F#/Gb Natural Minor
- F#/Gb Blues
- F#/Gb Dorian
- F#/Gb Mixolydian
- F#/Gb Phrygian
- F#/Gb Harmonic Minor
- F#/Gb Lydian
- F#/Gb Locrian
- F#/Gb Diminished (Half-Whole)
- F#/Gb Diminished (Whole-Half)
- F#/Gb Whole Tone
- F#/Gb Augmented (Hexatonic)
- F#/Gb Altered (Super Locrian)
- F#/Gb Phrygian Dominant
- F#/Gb Lydian Dominant
- F#/Gb Mixolydian ♭6 (Hindu)
- F#/Gb Bebop Dominant
- F#/Gb Quartal (Stacked 4ths)
- F#/Gb Quartal Minor (Stacked 4ths)