Written Music Tutorial #1 ( Pitch )
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The 12 Major Scales

Notes  C  Db   D  Eb   E   F   Gb   G   Ab   A  Bb   B
B               B
A# or Bb               BbA#
A             AA 
G# or Ab           AbG# G#
G          GG  G  
F# or Gb          GbF#  F# F#
F       FF  F F 
E     EE E E  E
D# or Eb    EbD# Eb Eb EbD#
D  DD  D D DD  
C# or Db DbC# C# Db DbC#  C#
CCC C  C  CC  C 
BB B B  CbB B B
A# or Bb Bb Bb  BbBb  Bb Bb 
AA  A AA A  A   
G# or Ab  Ab AbG# Ab Ab   
GG  GG G G      
F# or Gb GbF#  F# Gb       
FFF F F         
EE E E          
D# or Eb  Eb Eb               
DD  D                 
C# or Db Db            
CC                


Spelling

The table above shows the 12 Major Scales with their most conventional spellings (i.e. written in sharps or written in flats). The basic rule for spelling is: Spell it the way that is easiest to read - The way that involves the fewest Sharps or Flats.

Let's take the Eb Major Scale as an example:
If you look at the Eb Major scale in the chart above, you'll see that it's in Eb (letter names: E, F, G, A, B, C, D). Spelling this in Eb gives us three flats (Eb, Ab, and Bb).

Were we to spell this in D# (letter names: D, E, F, G, A, B, C), we would get : D#, E#, Fx (F double sharp),B#, A#, B#, Cx. This would be too confusing for someone reading the music.
As you can see in the table above, it is easier to spell Major scales starting on sharps or flats with flats. The one exception is Gb (6 flats) or F# (6 sharps), which are equal in theory. But Guitarists would probably have an easier time with F# and Saxophone players would probably prefer Gb. Gb is probably preferred by most.
Written Music Tutorial #1 ( Pitch )
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