Overview

historically, music was based on the seven natural pitches A-G.
different types of scales could be formed by arranging these notes to start and end on different pitches.
several such scales were in common use in the Renaissance.
the scale starting on C was called the Ionian mode and is equivalent to the modern major scale.
major scales can be formed on other pitches by using accidentals.
the major scale was originally seen as no more significant than other arrangements of the seven natural pitches.
the leading tone was one attribute of the major scale that was often "borrowed" in other scales.
as the major scale rose in prominence, the desire to build major scales on other pitches led to standardization in the use of accidentals and the development of modern tuning systems.
for the past several centuries, major scales have formed the basis for most of Western melody and harmony.
learning and practicing major scales is an important step towards gaining instrumental or vocal proficiency.
when it comes to gaining musical proficiency, even better is to practice making melodies using the notes of a scale.

Discussion

Basic Music Theory