Since the 17th century, most music has used two scales: the major scale and the minor scale.

Major scale

A major scale can be built using the white keys on a piano keyboard starting with C:

A major scale has a major third interval between its first and third notes.

Minor scale

We can build a minor scale using only the white piano keys, starting in A:

Minor scales have a minor third interval between the first and third note.

The type of scale is defined not by its first note, but by the intervals used to create it.