Resource 5 of 14Book 1
QR-B1-005
Major Step-Code Explained
Core Teaching5–7 min
Objective
Lock in the meaning of the + sign and build a Major scale from any tonic.
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Focus
“The + sign is not an accidental. In Step-Code it means one whole tone.”
Decode
- 01In Step-Code, + always means one whole tone.
- 02The joins written without a + — 3 to 4 and 7 to 8 — are semitones.
- 03The resulting movement pattern is W–W–H–W–W–W–H.
- 04Demonstrations in C, G, F, D and Bb.
Major Step-Code
1 + 2 + 3 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 8
- + = one whole tone, every time.
- 3–4 and 7–8 are semitones.
- Movement pattern: W–W–H–W–W–W–H.
Practise Now
- 01Build one Major scale you have not played before, using the Step-Code only.
- 02Say the note names aloud as you play up and down.
What you should be able to do
You can build any Major scale from its tonic using the Step-Code rather than memory.
Return to the Book
Student Handbook — Chapters 5–6
Close the resource, return to this page in the book and practise the pattern.