A specific type of seven note diatonic scale in which notes are separated from one another by whole steps, except for degrees 3 to 4 and degrees 7 to 8, which are separated by half steps. In other words, a major scale, in ascending order, is as follows:

1 - 2 = Whole step (where 1 is the root note of the scale)
2 - 3 = Whole step
3 - 4 = Half step
4 - 5 = Whole step
5 - 6 = Whole step
6 - 7 = Whole step
7 - 8 = Half step