C Major Scale
The C major scale is the brightest, most stable diatonic scale built on C. It's the default 'happy' sound in Western music.
Notes in C Major
The C Major scale contains C — D — E — F — G — A — B. The interval pattern is the universal major pattern, transposed to start on C.
How to use it
Open the interactive scale explorer above to see C Major on a piano keyboard, on a guitar fretboard, and to hear it played ascending or descending. The diatonic chord chips show the chords built from this scale.
Common uses
The C major scale is the brightest, most stable diatonic scale built on C. It's the default 'happy' sound in Western music.
FAQs
What chords go with the C Major scale?
Open the scale explorer to see the seven diatonic chords built from this scale. Each chord chip plays back so you can hear the harmony.
How is C Major different from other scales on C?
The intervals between notes are different. C Major uses the major interval pattern; switch to a different scale type in the explorer to hear how the same root sounds with major, minor, pentatonic, blues, and other patterns.
What's the relative key of C Major?
For major and minor scales, the relative is found three semitones away. C major and A minor share the same notes; C minor and D# major share the same notes.