C Major Scale on Guitar

  1. Browse Category
  2. Page 1:
    1. Fretboard Overview - Note Names
    2. Fretboard Overview - Intervals
    3. Modes of the C Major Scale
      1. The C Ionian Mode
      2. The D Dorian Mode
      3. The E Phrygian Mode
      4. The F Lydian Mode
      5. The G Mixolydian Mode
      6. The A Aeolian Mode
      7. The B Locrian Mode
  3. Page 2: CAGED Patterns
  4. Page 3: 3NPS Patterns
  5. Page 4: Pentatonic Scales in the C Major Scale
    1. A Minor Pentatonic
    2. D Minor Pentatonic
    3. E Minor Pentatonic
  6. The Major Scale - Base Topic
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Fretboard Overview - Note Names

The C major scale as it occurs on the guitar in standard tuning, presented with the note names displayed.
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Fretboard Overview - Tone Functions

The C major scale as it occurs on the guitar in standard tuning, presented with the note intervals displayed for the ionian mode.
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The Modes of the C Major Scale

C Ionian

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D Dorian

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E Phrygian

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F Lydian

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G Mixolydian

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A Aeolian

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B Locrian

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Mode #1: C Ionian

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Formula: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7
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Mode #2: D Dorian

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Formula: 1 - 2 - b3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - b7

An interesting observation

When you look at the 'clock' representation of this scale (the circle of notes), this scale is perfectly symmetrical.

For the musical genius and guitarist Allan Holdsworth, this inspired him to essentially base his theoretical concept around this scale as a vantage point. This simplification is one example of how luminous his perception and way of thinking was and how he must have been naturally able to reduce concepts to the bare basics.

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Mode #3: E Phrygian

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Formula: 1 - b2 - b3 - 4 - 5 - b6 - b7

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Mode #4: F Lydian

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Formula: 1 - 2 - 3 - #4 - 5 - 6 - 7

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Mode #5: G Mixolydian

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Formula: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - b7

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Mode #6: A Aeolian

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Formula: 1 - 2 - b3 - 4 - 5 - b6 - b7

This mode is also known as the Natural Minor scale. Observe that this scale is where the western musical alphabet comes from: A - B - C - D - E - F - G.

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Mode #7: B Locrian

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Formula: 1 - b2 - b3 - 4 - b5 - b6 - b7

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