Major 7 vs Major 6
The C major 7 and the C major 6 share 3 notes — C, E, G. From there, the C major 7 adds B, while the C major 6 adds A.
Ukulele, tuned low to high: G, C, E, A. 12 frets.
- G string: fret 0 G (5 of C Major 7 and 5 of C Major 6), fret 2 A (6), fret 4 B (7), fret 5 C (root of C Major 7 and root of C Major 6), fret 9 E (3 of C Major 7 and 3 of C Major 6), fret 12 G (5 of C Major 7 and 5 of C Major 6).
- C string: fret 0 C (root of C Major 7 and root of C Major 6), fret 4 E (3 of C Major 7 and 3 of C Major 6), fret 7 G (5 of C Major 7 and 5 of C Major 6), fret 9 A (6), fret 11 B (7), fret 12 C (root of C Major 7 and root of C Major 6).
- E string: fret 0 E (3 of C Major 7 and 3 of C Major 6), fret 3 G (5 of C Major 7 and 5 of C Major 6), fret 5 A (6), fret 7 B (7), fret 8 C (root of C Major 7 and root of C Major 6), fret 12 E (3 of C Major 7 and 3 of C Major 6).
- A string: fret 0 A (6), fret 2 B (7), fret 3 C (root of C Major 7 and root of C Major 6), fret 7 E (3 of C Major 7 and 3 of C Major 6), fret 10 G (5 of C Major 7 and 5 of C Major 6), fret 12 A (6).
Both scales above are drawn on one ukulele fretboard in the key of C. Notes belonging to both are drawn as a split two-color dot, so the notes they share and the notes unique to each are visible in one picture.
How the formulas differ
Scale degrees are the key-independent way to compare two scales — these stay the same in every key, and they are what actually distinguishes one scale from another.
| Scale | Degrees |
|---|---|
| Major 7 | R · 3 · 5 · 7 |
| Major 6 | R · 3 · 5 · 6 |
Notes in common
| Note | In Major 7 | In Major 6 |
|---|---|---|
| C | R | R |
| E | 3 | 3 |
| G | 5 | 5 |
Notes that differ
- Only in the major 7: B (7)
- Only in the major 6: A (6)