The simplest major scale to write is C major , the only major scale not to require sharps or flats : C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C ( C major scale ( help · info ) ) The major scale had a central importance in European music , particularly in the common practice period and in popular music , owing to the large number of chords that can be formed from it .
The simplest major scale to write or play on the piano is C major , the only major scale not to require sharps or flats , using only the white keys on the piano keyboard : C major scale ( info \* help ) A major scale is a set of steps in the order `` Whole : Whole : Half : Whole : Whole : Whole : Half '' ( tone , tone , semitone , tone , tone , tone , semitone ) .