Scales reference
Major Scale
The major scale is a seven-note pitch collection that provides a central reference point for scale degrees, keys, melody, and tonal harmony.
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C Major Scale
- Theory
- Scale
- Written root
- C
- Instrument
- 6-string Guitar
- Tuning
- E Standard
- Labels
- Notes
- Handedness
- Right handed
| String, low to high | Fret | Current label | Note | Degree | Interval | Root |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 1 | 1 | F | F | 4 | 4 | No |
| 1 | 3 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 1 | 5 | A | A | 6 | 6 | No |
| 1 | 7 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 1 | 8 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 1 | 10 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 1 | 12 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 1 | 13 | F | F | 4 | 4 | No |
| 1 | 15 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 1 | 17 | A | A | 6 | 6 | No |
| 1 | 19 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 1 | 20 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 1 | 22 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 1 | 24 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 2 | 0 | A | A | 6 | 6 | No |
| 2 | 2 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 2 | 3 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 2 | 5 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 2 | 7 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 2 | 8 | F | F | 4 | 4 | No |
| 2 | 10 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 2 | 12 | A | A | 6 | 6 | No |
| 2 | 14 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 2 | 15 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 2 | 17 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 2 | 19 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 2 | 20 | F | F | 4 | 4 | No |
| 2 | 22 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 2 | 24 | A | A | 6 | 6 | No |
| 3 | 0 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 3 | 2 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 3 | 3 | F | F | 4 | 4 | No |
| 3 | 5 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 3 | 7 | A | A | 6 | 6 | No |
| 3 | 9 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 3 | 10 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 3 | 12 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 3 | 14 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 3 | 15 | F | F | 4 | 4 | No |
| 3 | 17 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 3 | 19 | A | A | 6 | 6 | No |
| 3 | 21 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 3 | 22 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 3 | 24 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 4 | 0 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 4 | 2 | A | A | 6 | 6 | No |
| 4 | 4 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 4 | 5 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 4 | 7 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 4 | 9 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 4 | 10 | F | F | 4 | 4 | No |
| 4 | 12 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 4 | 14 | A | A | 6 | 6 | No |
| 4 | 16 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 4 | 17 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 4 | 19 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 4 | 21 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 4 | 22 | F | F | 4 | 4 | No |
| 4 | 24 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 5 | 0 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 5 | 1 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 5 | 3 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 5 | 5 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 5 | 6 | F | F | 4 | 4 | No |
| 5 | 8 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 5 | 10 | A | A | 6 | 6 | No |
| 5 | 12 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 5 | 13 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 5 | 15 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 5 | 17 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 5 | 18 | F | F | 4 | 4 | No |
| 5 | 20 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 5 | 22 | A | A | 6 | 6 | No |
| 5 | 24 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 6 | 0 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 6 | 1 | F | F | 4 | 4 | No |
| 6 | 3 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 6 | 5 | A | A | 6 | 6 | No |
| 6 | 7 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 6 | 8 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 6 | 10 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 6 | 12 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 6 | 13 | F | F | 4 | 4 | No |
| 6 | 15 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 6 | 17 | A | A | 6 | 6 | No |
| 6 | 19 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 6 | 20 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 6 | 22 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 6 | 24 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
Overview
Major-scale relationships organise a large part of tonal vocabulary. The scale can function as a melodic collection, a map of numbered degrees, and the source from which diatonic chords are formed.
Ionian mode shares the same interval structure, but the two references serve different purposes: the major scale establishes the scale identity, while Ionian explains that identity within the major-mode family.
Construction
Seven distinct scale degrees fill the octave in an unequal pattern of whole-tone and semitone steps. The authoritative definition identifies those degrees without tying the concept to a single written root.
Characteristics
The scale establishes a strong tonal centre and contains a leading tone one semitone below the tonic. Individual degrees can sound settled, active, or directional according to their melodic and harmonic context.
Applications
The major scale supports melody, interval recognition, diatonic harmony, chord construction, transposition, and instrumental navigation. It is also the parent system used to compare the seven major-scale modes.