Map it slowly
Find C on string 6 at fret 8. Play string 6, fret 8; string 6, fret 10; string 6, fret 12; string 5, fret 8; string 5, fret 10. Use a relaxed position and release pressure between repetitions. String 1 is high E.
Major (Ionian) · C · Guitar
C Major (Ionian) scale on guitar
The C Major scale is C D E F G A B — formula 1 2 3 4 5 6 7, step pattern W–W–H–W–W–W–H. Use it over Cmaj7: it is the scale for the I chord (maj7) and any major-key tonic; the default over Imaj7 in a ii–V–I. Below, every note is marked on the fretboard in standard tuning; press play to hear it on a synthesized guitar while each note lights up, or tap any fret to sound that note.
Visualizer
C Major on the fretboard.
Guitar · standard tuning
Piano
RootChord tone (1 3 5 7)Scale toneBeing played
Tempo100 bpm
Show
Sound
Tap any note on the diagram to hear it. Play loops the scale up and down one octave in eighth notes (switch Loop off for a single pass) in the position starting at fret 8. “Show” switches or combines the fretboard and keyboard; “Sound” picks the instrument you hear. Audio is synthesized in the browser.
Your next 10 minutes
Make C Major part of your playing
Make a short phrase
Play C – D – E as two eighth notes and a quarter note, then rest for two beats. Answer with B – A – G. Use the space to hear the phrase before repeating it.
Hear it in context
Hold or repeat C as a drone. Play each note of C Major above it, pausing on D and B. Compare their tension with the root. Then improvise using only three notes and two rhythms.
Listen for this: the I chord (maj7) and any major-key tonic; the default over Imaj7 in a ii–V–I. Treat the scale as a palette, not a requirement to play every note. If a note clashes with a chord or melody, resolve it deliberately or leave it out.
Understand the sound
C Major: from a pattern to a musical choice
Hear F in context
The fourth can rub against the major third in a sustained major-seventh voicing. Hear that tension before deciding whether to hold it or move on.
In C Major, degree 4 is F. Play C, then F, then C again. Sing the middle note before touching the instrument.
A mistake to avoid
Treat a scale run as raw material. Break it into a short question and an answer.
Slow the player to 60 bpm. Record one short phrase and check whether its ending sounds deliberate. Increase the tempo only when you can repeat it without losing the pulse.
C Major versus C Lydian
Shared pitches: C, D, E, G, A, B. Pitches in C Major outside the comparison scale: F. Compare the sounds over the same root, at the same tempo.
Play C Lydian on guitar →Your guitar checkpoint
Start with C on string 6, fret 8. The next note D is on string 6, fret 10. Name both notes aloud before playing, then find the same two pitches in another octave.
Before moving on, close the diagram and name the notes: C · D · E · F · G · A · B. Then play a two-bar phrase from memory and leave two bars of silence.
On piano
The same scale on the keyboard.
Reference
C Major — notes, degrees & intervals.
| Degree | Note | Interval from C | Step to next |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | unison (0 semitones) | W |
| 2 | D | major 2nd (2 semitones) | W |
| 3 | E | major 3rd (4 semitones) | H |
| 4 | F | perfect 4th (5 semitones) | W |
| 5 | G | perfect 5th (7 semitones) | W |
| 6 | A | major 6th (9 semitones) | W |
| 7 | B | major 7th (11 semitones) | H |
Chord it implies: Cmaj7 (C – E – G – B). Use it for: the I chord (maj7) and any major-key tonic; the default over Imaj7 in a ii–V–I.
Take it to the bandstand.Practice Radio streams endless changes to play C Major over through all twelve keys, with the chord and scale shown live — plus ear-training and call & response modes.
▶ Open Practice RadioCommon questions
C Major FAQ.
What are the notes of the C Major scale?
C D E F G A B. As scale degrees: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. It has 7 notes.
What chords does C Major work over?
C Major fits Cmaj7 and, more generally, the I chord (maj7) and any major-key tonic; the default over Imaj7 in a ii–V–I.
What is the formula of the Major (Ionian) scale?
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 — the step pattern from the root is W W H W W W H (W = whole step, H = half step).
How do I play C Major on guitar?
Start on the root C on the low E string at fret 8, and play the one-octave position shown: E-string fret 8, E-string fret 10, E-string fret 12, A-string fret 8, A-string fret 10, A-string fret 12, D-string fret 9, D-string fret 10. Every C on the neck is a root, so the same shape works in every position where the notes are marked.
Keep going
Major in every other key.
Same scale on piano · all Major pages: Major (Ionian) hub · practise it in context: ii–V–I trainer · theory: chord-scale theory.
Other scales from C