C

Diatonic Scale

C Major

The brightest, most stable scale — the foundation of Western tonal music.

Notes in C Major

C1
D2
E3
F4
G5
A6
B7
C8

Chords in C Major

7 diatonic chords
DegreeChordNotesQuality
ICC – E – Gmajor
iiDmD – F – Aminor
iiiEmE – G – Bminor
IVFF – A – Cmajor
VGG – B – Dmajor
viAmA – C – Eminor
viiB°B – D – Fdiminished

Other Scales in C

Natural MinorC, D, D#, F, G, G#, A#Harmonic MinorC, D, D#, F, G, G#, BMelodic MinorC, D, D#, F, G, A, BDorianC, D, D#, F, G, A, A#PhrygianC, C#, D#, F, G, G#, A#LydianC, D, E, F#, G, A, BMixolydianC, D, E, F, G, A, A#LocrianC, C#, D#, F, F#, G#, A#Major PentatonicC, D, E, G, AMinor PentatonicC, D#, F, G, A#BluesC, D#, F, F#, G, A#Whole ToneC, D, E, F#, G#, A#Diminished (H-W)C, C#, D#, E, F#, G, A, A#Diminished (W-H)C, D, D#, F, F#, G#, A, BPhrygian DominantC, C#, E, F, G, G#, A#Hungarian MinorC, D, D#, F#, G, G#, BLydian DominantC, D, E, F#, G, A, A#

Major in All 12 Keys

CC D E F G A BC#D♭Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb CDD E F# G A B C#D#E♭Eb F G Ab Bb C DEE F# G# A B C# D#FF G A Bb C D EF#G♭F# G# A# B C# D# FGG A B C D E F#G#A♭Ab Bb C Db Eb F GAA B C# D E F# G#A#B♭Bb C D Eb F G ABB C# D# E F# G# A#

Practice by Ear

Scale RecognitionIdentify the Major scale by ear →Play C MajorHear the scale and practice recognising it →Chord Recognition TrainerIdentify the chords above by ear →Progression TrainerIdentify common progressions in this key →

Chords in C Major

The C major scale contains the notes C, D, E, F, G, A, B. The brightest, most stable scale — the foundation of Western tonal music.

The diatonic chords in C major are C (I), Dm (ii), Em (iii), F (IV), G (V), Am (vi), B° (vii). These are the chords you can use when writing or improvising in this key — every note in each chord belongs to the C major scale.

To develop your ear for the C major sound, use the scale and chord trainers linked above. Being able to recognise these sounds by ear — not just read them from a chart — is what separates musicians who truly hear music from those who only read it.