The major scale is used more often than the minor scale in Western music because of its unique harmonic properties . For example , the major third is much stronger in the harmonic series ( it is the 5th , 10th and 20th harmonic â `` see below ) than the minor third ( the 19th harmonic ) . The major scale may predominate the minor scale in Western music because of its unique harmonic properties ; in particular the major third is much stronger in the harmonic series ( it is the 5th , 10th and 20th harmonic â `` see below ) than the minor third ( the 19th harmonic ) .