Estimated reading time 2 minutes
Table of Contents
The C Major Scale/C Major Chord Scale #1: Unlocking Your Ability to Improvise, Compose, and Play Music
Do you want to understand the notes, chords, and patterns in the C scale better? Figuring out how scales and chords work together will unlock your ability to improvise, compose, and play music. Keep reading to learn how the C major scale (including the C major chord scale) works.
This article uses musical terms. For definitions, see the Glossary at the end of the post.
The C Major Scale/C Major Chord Scale #2: Discussing the Patterns
Mobile users: for best results reading the examples, tilt your screen 90o to the right.
To access an online keyboard: click here.
We’ll talk about the C major chord scale in the next section. First, let’s look at the C major scale.
Here are the notes and patterns you’ll find:
- The notes in the key of C: C D E F G A B C.
- The scale also has this arrangement of half and whole steps: W W H W W W H (W = whole step and H = half step).
- It’s not just the C scale, any major scale will have this arrangement of half and whole steps.
- Looking at the keyboard above, you can see how it would look on the piano.
- On the keyboard, a half step is the distance from one key to the very next key. Conversely, a whole step has one black key (gray on the diagram) in between.
- So, the “white key” half steps will be between E & F and B & C.
- The sheet music example below shows the pattern of half and whole steps.
The C Major Key:
The C Major Scale/C Major Chord Scale #3: What is Diatonic Harmony?
Triads in the C Major Key:
The C major chord scale is built from the notes of the C major scale. (Technically, the chord scale should be called diatonic harmony instead.)
- The triads pull their notes only from this scale and are thus called diatonic chords.
- The key of C contains three major (C, F, G), three minor (Dm, Em, Am), and one diminished (B dim) chords.
- Any major key will have this pattern of chords, even though the note labels for the chords will shift as you change keys.
To learn how Roman numeral analysis works:
The C Major Scale/C Major Chord Scale #4: Summary
Here’s some final thoughts on The C Major Scale (Including the C Major Chord Scale):
- The key of C has these notes: C D E F G A B C.
- The C major scale builds its triads using only these notes (diatonic harmony).
- So, you’d use these triads to harmonize your melodies in the key of C.
- Similarly, you’d improvise over the chord changes using the C scale.
- Likewise, you’d write a melody over these triads using the notes from the C scale.
Have fun playing!
Related Posts
- The G Major Scale (Including the G Major Chord Scale)
- Do I Really Have to Learn Music Theory to Learn How to Play Piano?
- D’you Want Some Music Tips and Tricks I’ve Learned Over the Years?
© 2024 Geoffrey Keith
Join me for in-person or online lessons today!
Back to the All-Purpose Music Tips and Topics category blogs page
Glossary
Why It’s So Hard for Someone with a Good Ear to Learn Sheet Music
Do you want to learn how to read music, but just can’t? Are you a teacher that has students with good ears who struggle with reading? Having a good ear can be a two-edged sword. The student can pick up music quickly by ear. However, the same strength can create challenges for score reading. Read more to learn why it’s so hard for someone with a good ear to learn to read sheet music. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Read More
What Purpose Do Accidentals Serve in Reading Sheet Music?
“What purpose do accidentals serve in reading sheet music?” Sharps, flats, and naturals (collectively called accidentals) grew out of a problem that needed to be fixed in the mediaeval music notation. The music theorists of the time slapped their fix onto the preexisting notation system, and that fix is still with us to this day. However, having confused generations of budding musicians, the results of the fix leave a lot to be desired. Click to answer the question, “What purpose do accidentals serve in reading sheet music?” Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Read More
How to Graduate from Color Coded Music Notes: Part 1
Has your student been playing color coded music notes and is ready to graduate? Have you wondered how to get to your student to play a color free score? The "How to Graduate from Color Coded Music Notes" series will show you how. Read more to understand contour lines and how to use them as the first step toward moving on from the colors. Estimated reading time 5 minutes.
Read More
What’s the Deal with These i-VII-VI-V and iv-V-VII Chords and Stuff? (Part 4)
Do your eyes cross when you try to figure out Roman Numeral analysis? Roman numerals are broadly used to analyze chords in songs. However, you’ll use some Roman numerals to specifically describe harmonies in minor keys. Read more to find out the answer to, “What's the deal with these i-VII-VI-V and iv-V-VII chords and stuff?” Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Read More