C major scale on guitar
The C major scale has seven notes: C, D, E, F, G, A and B (1 2 3 4 5 6 7). The do-re-mi scale that every other scale is measured against. Bright and settled; it fits major and maj7 chords, and the other six modes are this scale started from a different note.
| Note | C | D | E | F | G | A | B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | 1 (root) | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Step to the next | whole | whole | half | whole | whole | whole | half |
5 positions to learn it in
On guitar a seven-note scale is learnt in five shapes, each built round one of the open chord shapes C, A, G, E and D. Together they cover the neck. Press Play to hear each one, up and back down.
Chords that go with the C major scale
The chords on each note of the scale that use only its notes. Play over any of them and every note fits; C (C) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (C) | Chome | Cmaj7home |
| 2 (D) | Dmrestless | Dm7restless |
| 3 (E) | Emhalf-light | Em7half-light |
| 4 (F) | Fthe door | Fmaj7the door |
| 5 (G) | Gthe pull | G7the pull |
| 6 (A) | Amthe shadow | Am7the shadow |
| 7 (B) | Bdimthe edge | Bm7♭5the edge |
Scales with the same notes
Its relative minor is the A minor scale: the same notes, started from A.
The chords of this key, to hear and play: chords in the key of C major.
Questions
What notes are in the C major scale?
C, D, E, F, G, A and B. Its intervals from the root are 1 2 3 4 5 6 7, and the steps between its notes are W W H W W W H (W a whole step, H a half step).
What chords go with the C major scale?
The chords made only of its notes: C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am and Bdim, and as seventh chords Cmaj7, Dm7, Em7, Fmaj7, G7, Am7 and Bm7♭5. C is home: C is the chord it sounds most settled over.
What is the relative minor of the C major scale?
The A minor scale, which has the same notes started from A.
The major scale in every key
Other scales in C
C minorC minor pentatonicC major pentatonicC bluesC DorianC MixolydianC LydianC PhrygianC harmonic minorC melodic minorC Phrygian dominant
Practise it on a sheet of your own in the practice sheet maker, with a metronome and a drone. Every scale: guitar scales. This scale on bass, ukulele, mandolin and banjo.