Scale · C major

C major scale

Seven natural notes, no sharps or flats. Use the keyboard below to connect the written notes to a physical pattern.

NotesC D E F G A B
Formula1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Key signatureNo sharps or flats
Relative minorA minor
NotesC · D · E · F · G · A · B
Formula1 2 3 4 5 6 7
CDEFGAB

Theory

What makes C major useful

C major uses the seven natural letter names in order: C, D, E, F, G, A and B. That makes it a clean reference point for seeing whole-step and half-step spacing without accidentals getting in the way.

On piano, the scale is the white-note pattern from C to the next C. On guitar, the same seven pitch classes repeat in several positions, so the note set stays the same even when the fingering changes.

C Major Scale notes: C, D, E, F, G, A, B.

Practice

Three useful passes

Keep the task narrow enough that tempo and note quality stay observable.

  1. 01

    Play one octave slowly enough that every note is even.

  2. 02

    Use a metronome and keep one note per click before increasing the tempo.

  3. 03

    Reverse the scale without pausing at the top, then repeat in another octave or position.