Major scales have a pattern of whole steps and half steps that results in an overall bright and cheerful sound, while minor scales use a different pattern of whole and half steps that produces a sadder and more gloomy sound. The major scale interval pattern is whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half, while the minor scale pattern is whole, half, whole, whole, half, whole, whole. Major and minor scales are related in that they use the same notes but have different interval patterns between those notes, resulting in their distinct emotional qualities and uses in music composition.