Major Scale
The Major Scale has a Major quality due to its Major Third E. The Major Scale, like Major, is the most important and commonly found scale in Western music and produces a generally happy sound. Major Scale is classified as a heptatonic scale as it has seven notes, C, D, E, F, G, A, B. The Major Scale is also known as a diatonic scale which conforms to specific rules. The Major Scale was originally formed from the identical Ionian Mode.
Below you will find the Major Scale notes, notation, patterns, degrees, intervals and more. You can also opt to see the Major Scale on your preferred instrument.
Notes Ascending
C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C
Notes Descending
C, B, A, G, F, E, D, C
Notation Ascending
Notation Descending
Pattern Ascending
T, T, S, T, T, T, S
S = Semitone, T = Tone (2 Semitones)
Pattern Descending
S, T, T, T, S, T, T
S = Semitone, T = Tone (2 Semitones)
Degrees Ascending
| Note | Number | Name |
|---|---|---|
| C | 1 | Tonic |
| D | 2 | Supertonic |
| E | 3 | Mediant |
| F | 4 | Subdominant |
| G | 5 | Dominant |
| A | 6 | Submediant |
| B | 7 | Leading Tone |
| C | 8 | Tonic (Octave) |
Degrees Descending
| Note | Number | Name |
|---|---|---|
| C | 8 | Tonic (Octave) |
| B | 7 | Leading Tone |
| A | 6 | Submediant |
| G | 5 | Dominant |
| F | 4 | Subdominant |
| E | 3 | Mediant |
| D | 2 | Supertonic |
| C | 1 | Tonic |
Intervals Ascending
| Notes | Semitones | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| C > C | 0 | Perfect Unison (P1) |
| C > D | 2 | Major 2nd (M2) |
| C > E | 4 | Major 3rd (M3) |
| C > F | 5 | Perfect 4th (P4) |
| C > G | 7 | Perfect 5th (P5) |
| C > A | 9 | Major 6th (M6) |
| C > B | 11 | Major 7th (M7) |
| C > C | 12 | Perfect Octave (P8) |
Intervals Descending
| Notes | Semitones | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| C > C | 0 | Perfect Unison (P1) |
| C > B | 1 | minor 2nd (m2) |
| C > A | 3 | minor 3rd (m3) |
| C > G | 5 | Perfect 4th (P4) |
| C > F | 7 | Perfect 5th (P5) |
| C > E | 8 | minor 6th (m6) |
| C > D | 10 | minor 7th (m7) |
| C > C | 12 | Perfect Octave (P8) |
Scales related to C Major Scale
Enharmonic Equivalent Scale
Scale with the same root and notes as the C Major Scale but different spelling.
B♯ Major Scale
Relative Minor Scale
Minor scale with the same notes as C Major Scale but in a different order.
A Natural Minor Scale
Parallel Minor Scale
Minor scale with the same root note as C Major Scale.
C Natural Minor Scale
Chords related to C Major Scale
Related Triads
These chords have been built using the notes of the C Major Scale. The chords are in degree order and shown in Roman numerals (lowercase = minor/diminished, uppercase = Major/Augmented).
I Chord - C Major
ii Chord - D Minor
iii Chord - E Minor
IV Chord - F Major
V Chord - G Major
vi Chord - A Minor
viio Chord - B Diminished
Learn to Play Major Scale
If you want to learn what scales and modes are and much more, check out our free Fundamentals of Music Theory course. If you already know some of the basics, you can jump straight into the scales lesson.
