C Major Scale on Guitar

Learning the C Major Scale is a worthy investment; it will serve you well for a lifetime! 

As you practice this scale, you be playing it Per String,  with CAGED3NPS and 4NPS fingerings.

You will you will learn all about Modes, memorise the shapes and inversions of Closed and Wide Triads, you'll learn all of the Seventh Chords, Sus Chords, Arpeggios and Scale Patterns. 

Check out these chord-scale studies, well suited for beginning and intermediate players.

You'll even learn about scales hidden inside this scale, like the various pentatonic scales which exist within the C Major Scale!

As you practice and jam, use the backing tracks to enjoy and master it all.

Fretboard Overview - Note Names

The C major scale as it occurs on the guitar in standard tuning, presented with the note names displayed.
C Major Scale on Guitar Fretboard

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.
C Major Scale Intervals on Guitar Fretboard

Triads

1 C
2m Dm
3m Em
4 F
5 G
6m Am
7dim Bdim

Seventh Chords

Imaj7 Cmaj7
iim7 Dm7
iiim7 Em7
IVmaj7 Fmaj7
V7 G7
vim7 Am7
viim7b5 Bm7b5

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


C Ionian Mode on Guitar Fretboard

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

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Mode #2: D Dorian


D Dorian Mode on Guitar Fretboard

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


E Phrygian Mode on Guitar Fretboard

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

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Mode #4: F Lydian


F Lydian Mode on Guitar Fretboard

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

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Mode #5: G Mixolydian


G Mixolydian Mode on Guitar Fretboard

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

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Mode #6: A Aeolian


A Aeolian Mode on Guitar Fretboard

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


B Locrian Mode on Guitar Fretboard

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

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Application

Apply the C major scale on these chords: