What notes are in the C major scale?

C, D, E, F, G, A and B. Seven notes, no sharps or flats.

What is the relative minor of C major?

A minor. It uses exactly the same notes, starting from A.

Is C major the easiest scale on guitar?

It is one of the easiest to understand because it has no sharps or flats. For hand comfort, the minor pentatonic is just as easy.

Guide

C major scale

The C major scale is C, D, E, F, G, A, B and back to C. It has no sharps or flats, which makes it the first scale most people learn. On guitar it fits in the first three frets, using three open strings.

The notes of the C major scale

Note	Distance to the next note
C	step
D	step
E	half step
F	step
G	step
A	step
B	half step
C	(the octave, one scale up)

A step is two frets. A half step is one fret.

That pattern, step step half step step step step half step, is what makes any scale a major scale. Start it on a different note and you get a different major scale.

Where to play it on guitar

C major in open position. The number in each dot is the finger; 0 is an open string.

In words: A string: fret 3 (C). D string: open (D), fret 2 (E) and fret 3 (F). G string: open (G) and fret 2 (A). B string: open (B) and fret 1 (C).

1
C: A string, fret 3
Ring finger (3).
2
D, E, F: D string
Open, then fret 2 with finger 2, then fret 3 with finger 3.
3
G, A: G string
Open, then fret 2 with finger 2.
4
B, C: B string
Open, then fret 1 with finger 1. That C is one octave above where you started.

The scale in tab

Up the scale, one note per beat.

In words: In order: A string fret 3 (C), D string open (D), D string fret 2 (E), D string fret 3 (F), G string open (G), G string fret 2 (A), B string open (B), B string fret 1 (C).

Tip

Your C chord hides in it

Fret 3 on the A string, fret 2 on the D string and fret 1 on the B string are the three fingers of the C chord. The scale and the chord live in the same spot.

Chords from the C major scale

Stack every other note of the scale and you get chords. The three most used in the key of C are C, F and G, with A minor as the sad-sounding fourth.

The main chords in the key of C. Tap a chord to open its page.

In words: C major is x 3 2 0 1 0. F major is 1 3 3 2 1 1 (finger 1 flat across fret 1). G major is 3 2 0 0 0 3. A minor is x 0 2 2 1 0. Numbers are frets, thick string to thin, and x means do not play that string.

Hear the scale in a song

Try it now

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, melody mode

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star is the C major scale in a friendly order. Melody mode shows each note on the fretboard.

Open the song

Questions people ask

What notes are in the C major scale?: C, D, E, F, G, A and B. Seven notes, no sharps or flats.
What is the relative minor of C major?: A minor. It uses exactly the same notes, starting from A.
Is C major the easiest scale on guitar?: It is one of the easiest to understand because it has no sharps or flats. For hand comfort, the minor pentatonic is just as easy.