Scale · 7 notes
C major scale — guitar notes & shapes
The C major scale is C, D, E, F, G, A, B. The major scale is the reference for all of Western harmony: bright, resolved and singable. Every other scale on this site is described by how it differs from it.
On the fretboard
Red = root (C). High e string on top, like tab. Numbers show the scale degree.
Notes and formula
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | root |
| 2 | D | major 2nd |
| 3 | E | major 3rd |
| 4 | F | perfect 4th |
| 5 | G | perfect 5th |
| 6 | A | major 6th |
| 7 | B | major 7th |
Steps: W W H W W W H (W = whole step, H = half step).
Chords in the scale
Relative scale: A natural minor.
Home key: C.
Sound, styles and practice
Styles: Pop melodies, folk, country, classical and happy-sounding solos.
- Sing “do re mi” as you play to tie the sound to the shape.
- Play it in thirds (1–3, 2–4, 3–5…) to hear the chords inside it.
- Learn one position per week and connect it to the next.
Go further with guitar scales for beginners and how to improvise.
FAQ
- What notes are in the C major scale?
- C major: C, D, E, F, G, A, B.
- Where do I play C major on the guitar?
- The easiest place is around fret 8, where C sits on the low E string (highlighted in the diagram). The same pattern repeats 12 frets higher.
- What is its relative scale?
- A natural minor — the same notes with a different home note.