C Major Scale
The C major scale has seven notes: C, D, E, F, G, A and B. It has no sharps or flats, and it is the relative major of A minor.
Notes
- C1
- D2
- E3
- F4
- G5
- A6
- B7
Step pattern: W – W – H – W – W – W – H (W = whole step, H = half step)
| Degree | Note | Interval from C |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | Root |
| 2 | D | Major 2nd |
| 3 | E | Major 3rd |
| 4 | F | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | G | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | A | Major 6th |
| 7 | B | Major 7th |
On the piano
On the guitar
Root Scale tone
Key signature
C major has no sharps or flats — only white keys on the piano. See it on the circle of fifths →
Chords in the key of C major
| Numeral | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| I | C | Cmaj7 |
| ii | Dm | Dm7 |
| iii | Em | Em7 |
| IV | F | Fmaj7 |
| V | G | G7 |
| vi | Am | Am7 |
| vii° | Bdim | Bm7♭5 |
Common progressions
- Three-chordC – F – GI – IV – V
- Pop ("four chords")C – G – Am – FI – V – vi – IV
- Jazz ii–V–IDm – G – Cii – V – I
- 50s doo-wopC – Am – F – GI – vi – IV – V
Related scales
Practise it
- G major, three notes per stringTechnique · moved up 5 frets into C
- Legato trills (hammer-ons & pull-offs)Technique · already in this key
- ii–V–I lineJazz · already in this key
Explore it on the full fretboard · Piano scale explorer · Metronome