C Major Scale On Guitar
The C major scale is a 7 note scale that consists of notes C - D - E - F - G - A - B.
Here you will find all 7 scale shapes, the correct fingerings, best picking for speed & accuracy and the notes of the scale so you will be able to easily play the scale and understand what's going on musically.
Click the tabs below to learn the various shapes and how they fit together across the fretboard.
C Major Scale 1st Position
C major scale guitar tab
To play the first pattern of the C major scale place your first finger on the sixth string eight fret and pick down, the place your second finger on the sixth string 10th fret and pick up, then place your fourth finger (pinky finger) on the 6th string 12th fret and pick down the change strings (follow the guitar tab above)
The first pattern of the major scale is sometimes called the "ionian pattern" or "ionian mode" we will not discuss modes here but now you know. Click here for a brief description on guitar modes.
One of the biggest problems aspiring lead guitarist run into with scales is they use the wrong fingers and/or the wrong pick directions which causes their playing to be slow and sloppy so I made sure to include this! 👊
What Are the notes in the C major scale?
There are 7 notes that make the C major scale which are: C D E F G A B. Because there are 7 notes the major scale is sometimes referred to as a septatonic scale (septa meaning seven).
What is the formula for the C major scale?
The major scale uses the formula W - W - H - W - W - W - H
W= whole step (equal to 2 frets on your guitar) H = Half step (equal to 1 fret on your guitar)
When we apply this formula to the chromatic scale we will extract out the major scale and the notes will depend on which note we started on. It just so happens that if we start on a C note there will no no sharps or flats.
Sometimes you may hear terms such as tone and semitone which can be used interchangeably with whole step and half step.
Another formula (and much more usable) is after we have extracted the major scale out of the chromatic scale we can number the notes. When we do this we call these numbers "scale degrees."
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 - Scale degrees
C D E F G A B - Notes of C major scale
Learning and mastering the scale degrees is very important for understanding the fretboard, how chords are created, and making music. Inside the Guitar GPS Method we have extensive training to help you master this concept.
Cddd
Free Training
How to instantly solo in any key and break out of box position
Why is the C major scale so important?
The reason the C major scale is so important is because it is the only major scale that doesn't have any sharps or flats. This makes it much easier for beginners to understand on the musical side which means it's usually the scale players start with. Which also means there's a lot of songs written in C major.
What is the relative minor for the key of C major?
The Relative Minor or sometimes called the Relative 6 for the key of C major is A minor. All the notes and the chords used in C major are exactly the same as A minor. The term relative 6 makes reference that it is the relative minor is based off the 6th note of the scale. For more training on this concept check out the course Music Theory Training For Guitar inside the Guitar GPS Method membership.
C major scale guitar chords
When we reference chords for a scale we call this a KEY. The basic chords for the key of C major are C - Dm - Em - F - G - Am - Bdim. As you can see almost all of these chords can be played in open position making this an important scale and key to learn.
If you need help learning these chords or want to learn multiple ways to play them check out the Chord Library!