Original: For example, the notes of the C diatonic scale (C, D, E, F, G, A, B) can be labeled {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7}, reflecting the choice of C as tonic.
Simplified: It was a major scale. The pattern for a major scale has this set of steps: Note 1, tone, Note 2, tone, Note 3, semitone, Note 4, tone, Note 5, tone, Note 6, tone, Note 7, semitone, Note 8.