Which two types of scales are most common in Western music?

The two types of scales that are most common in Western music are the major scales and minor scales. These scales form the foundation of much of Western tonal music, providing the framework for melody and harmony.

Major scales are characterized by their bright, cheerful sound and consist of a specific pattern of whole and half steps: whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half. This pattern creates the unique intervals that give the major scale its distinctive character.

Minor scales, in contrast, evoke a more somber or melancholic quality. There are several types of minor scales (natural, harmonic, and melodic), but all share a similar foundational structure that tends to create a different mood than their major counterparts. The natural minor scale, for example, has a pattern of whole and half steps that produces a more dark or tense sound than the major scale.

Together, major and minor scales are fundamental to the structure of most Western music, guiding composers and musicians in creating melodies, harmonies, and entire compositions. Other scale types, while they do exist and have their own unique applications, are not as prevalent in the broader context of Western music as these two foundational scales.