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Explore the major scale

LEARN · STEP 1 OF 4

Start with the root

C major · Standard
C root1 / 1
Numbered notes are played one at a time in the numbered order. Strings follow catalog order from bottom to top. Exact positions follow in the table.012345123456C1

Follow the numbered notes one at a time. Finger placement may require position shifts.

Positions & fingering
Playing order · physical string numbers follow the tuning’s listed order
OrderStringFretPitch
123C3
Standard referenceExplore the full note mapOpen this example in the workbench (sign-in required)
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Start with the root

Start on C. This note gives the scale its name. Your tuning determines where you play it; the scale formula stays the same.

Walk through the scale

C major uses C, D, E, F, G, A, B. Its steps are whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half. Play the numbered positions in order, one at a time; the last note is the root an octave higher.

Find the chord inside

Take the first, third, and fifth degrees of this scale: C, E, G. Together they form C major. Compare their sound with the complete scale, then follow the chord lesson to find other grips.

Try it yourself

Play the scale slowly and listen to the first whole step. C major uses C, D, E, F, G, A, B. Its steps are whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half. Play the numbered positions in order, one at a time; the last note is the root an octave higher. Identify the second scale degree below.