Major (Ionian) · C · 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
Guitar · standard tuning
Piano
Tap any note on the diagram to hear it. Play runs the scale up and down one octave in eighth notes 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.
Reference
| 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.
Common questions
C D E F G A B. As scale degrees: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. It has 7 notes.
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.
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).
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
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