Common
About the C Major scale
C Major is used for anthems, pop hooks, hymns and anything that should feel uplifting and stable. Think of it as the bright, resolved, "happy" sound that anchors most pop, folk and classical music. It is C Lydian with the fourth lowered.
Its notes are C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. The formula is W W H W W W H.
Also called the Ionian mode, Diatonic Major, and Bilawal.
All seven notes of C Major are white keys.
Chords in the key of C Major
Expand a chord to see how to play it.
Position 2 of 3
C over E (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
D minor over F (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
E minor over G (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
F over A (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
G over B (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
A minor over C (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
B diminished over D (1st inversion)
Seventh chords in C Major
The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.
C major seven
D minor seven
E minor seven
F major seven
G seven
A minor seven
B minor seven flat five
Progressions in C Major
Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.
Notes and intervals
| 1 | CC | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | DD | Major 2nd |
| 3 | EE | Major 3rd |
| 4 | FF | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | GG | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | AA | Major 6th |
| 7 | BB | Major 7th |
| Steps | W W H W W W H |
|---|---|
| Semitones | 2-2-1-2-2-2-1 |
| Degrees | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 |
Fingering
Standard fingering
| Hand | C | D | E | F | G | A | B | C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Practicing it
In the right hand, the thumb comes under on F. In the left hand, the thumb takes G. Because the two finger patterns are reverses of one another, the hands mirror each other note for note when they move outward from C.
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Related scales
The relative minor is A Natural Minor scale.
Major in other keys
D flat Major scaleD Major scaleE flat Major scaleE Major scaleF Major scaleG flat Major scaleG Major scaleA flat Major scaleA Major scaleB flat Major scaleB Major scale
Modes
The same notes, starting on a different note.
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