C Major scale - Music theory (2024)

The key signature of C Major scale has no accidentals (no flat and no sharp).

C major scale is in a way the reference for the construction of all the other major scales.

C major scale as well as all the other major ranges consist of the following succession of intervals:

for

: W / W / H / W / W / W / H
for

: T / T / S / T / T / T / S

W = 1 whole step
H = half step
T = tone
S = semitone

Like this:

This sequence of whole steps and half steps

(tones and semitones

) will be used for all the other major scales.

The names of the music notes in the C major scale are: C D E F G A B

Key signature of C major scale

The key signature of C Major has no accidental.

See Also

Major Scales, Scale Degrees, and Key Signatures – OPEN MUSIC THEORYC Major Scale on Guitar: Positions & TheoryC Major Scale on Violin: Notes, Fingering, and Charts - ViolinspirationC Major Scale: Fretboard Diagrams, Chords, Notes and Charts - Guitar Gear Finder

C Major scale in most common clefs

Here is C major scale in most common clefs: treble clef, bass clef, tenor clef and alto clef.

C Major scale in treble clef (G-clef)

Below is the C major scale in treble clef:

C Major scale in bass clef

Below is the C major scale in bass clef:

C Major scale in alto clef

Below is the C major scale in alto clef:

C Major scale in tenor clef

Below is the C major scale in tenor clef:

Scale degrees of C major

Closely related keys of C major

Relative minor key of C Major

The relative minor key of C Major is A minor and below if the A minor natural scale:

Parallel Key of C Major

Parallel Key of C Major (or hom*onymous key) is C minor, here is the C harmonic minor scale :

Leading Tone of C Major

The leading Tone of C Major is B, because B is the degree VII and is distant to a seventh major of the tonic, or an half step (semitone ) lower than the tonic).

Chords of C major scale

C major scale on a piano

Below is the C major scale on a piano:

You will notice that only the white piano keys are used. Music notes must be played successively from left to right to obtain the ascending scale, or from right to left for the descending scale.

C major triad chord

The C major triad chord as a root note (C), a major third (C / E) and a perfect fifth (C / G):

And below is the C major triad chord on a piano keyboard:

Authentic cadence (perfect cadence) in C major

Here is an Authentic cadence (perfect cadence ) in C major :

C major scale video

The C major scale video:

C major on the circle of fifths

You can find C major on the circle of fifths and its key signature, relative minor key and closely related keys :

Famous works C major

Here are some works by famous composers composed in C major:

Symphony No. 41 (Jupiter) by Mozart

Here is an excerpt from the Trio of the Menuetto of Symphony No. 41 in C major KV. 551 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791). This symphony is nicknamed Jupiter.

Notice also the authentic cadence (perfect cadence ) V -> I at the end of this extract.

Le Bolero's Ravel

Le Boléro by Maurice Ravel (1875 - 1937) almost exclusively uses the of C major key, there is an abrupt modulation in E major only at the very end of the work.

The ostinato rhythm played by one or more snare drums players remains constant throughout the all piece.

test your knowledge

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