C major scale
Also called the Ionian mode: it’s the first of the seven modes.
The seven notes of the key of C major: root, second, major third, fourth, fifth, sixth and major seventh. The reference scale of Western music, where chords and melodies come from.
- Notes:
- C, D, E, F, G, A, B.
- Formula:
- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
- Style:
- All styles.
- Difficulty:
- Intermediate.
On the neck
Every note of the scale on the neck (choose 12, 15 or 19 frets). Click to listen.
High E at the top, just like in tab.Neck seen from the front, headstock at the top: low E on the left, just like a chord diagram.
Play the scale notes over it. Open in the Studio
Chords that go with it
The chords built on the notes of the scale: improvise with this scale over any progression that uses them.
Progressions to use it on
Loop the first one and improvise over it:
All 7 positions
Seven positions, one for each note of the scale, with three notes per string: the most regular way to cover the major scale across the whole neck. Position 1 starts on the root, on the 6th string.
Position 1: frets 8 to 13
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|------------------------------------------10-12-13-| B|---------------------------------10-12-13----------| G|-------------------------9-10-12-------------------| D|-----------------9-10-12---------------------------| A|---------8-10-12-----------------------------------| E|-8-10-12-------------------------------------------|
Position 2: frets 10 to 15
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|----------------------------------------------12-13-15-| B|-------------------------------------12-13-15----------| G|----------------------------10-12-14-------------------| D|-------------------10-12-14----------------------------| A|----------10-12-14-------------------------------------| E|-10-12-13----------------------------------------------|
Position 3: frets 0 to 5
It also works an octave higher, frets 12 to 17.
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-------------------------------1-3-5-| B|-------------------------1-3-5-------| G|-------------------0-2-4-------------| D|-------------0-2-3-------------------| A|-------0-2-3-------------------------| E|-0-1-3-------------------------------|
Position 4: frets 1 to 7
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-------------------------------3-5-7-| B|-------------------------3-5-6-------| G|-------------------2-4-5-------------| D|-------------2-3-5-------------------| A|-------2-3-5-------------------------| E|-1-3-5-------------------------------|
Position 5: frets 3 to 8
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-------------------------------5-7-8-| B|-------------------------5-6-8-------| G|-------------------4-5-7-------------| D|-------------3-5-7-------------------| A|-------3-5-7-------------------------| E|-3-5-7-------------------------------|
Position 6: frets 5 to 10
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|--------------------------------7-8-10-| B|-------------------------6-8-10--------| G|-------------------5-7-9---------------| D|-------------5-7-9---------------------| A|-------5-7-8---------------------------| E|-5-7-8---------------------------------|
Position 7: frets 7 to 12
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-------------------------------------8-10-12-| B|-----------------------------8-10-12---------| G|----------------------7-9-10-----------------| D|---------------7-9-10------------------------| A|--------7-8-10-------------------------------| E|-7-8-10--------------------------------------|