A major scale is a series of musical notes arranged in a specific order. It consists of seven distinct notes, followed by the octave, which is the eighth note that repeats the first. The pattern of whole and half steps in a major scale is: whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half. This structure creates a bright and happy sound. The C major scale is one of the most common examples, consisting of the notes C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. Major scales are foundational in music theory and are used in various genres, helping musicians create melodies and harmonies.