SCALE · ON PIANO
C Ionian
The major scale labelled as a mode — the pre-tonal bright default.
Tempo120 bpm
Audio source: tonejs-instruments by Nick Brosowsky (MIT)
Related scalesDiatonic chord harmonisation Same scale, other instruments Same scale, other tonics Modes built on this tonic Theory reference
RelativeA Natural MinorSame seven notes, tonic on the 6th degree — your access to the related minor key.ParallelC Natural MinorSame tonic, the parallel minor — the deepest mode flip in tonal music.Up a fifthG MajorOne sharp brighter on the circle of fifths.Up a fourthF MajorOne flat darker on the circle of fifths.One note differentC LydianRaise the 4th — the bright, floating Lydian colour.One note differentC MixolydianLower the 7th — folk, blues-rock, Celtic vocabulary.SubsetC Pentatonic MajorFive notes from the same scale — the bedrock pentatonic.ExoticC Harmonic MajorBorrow the ♭6 from minor — operatic edge, IV / iv6 colour.
Questions
What notes are in the C Ionian scale?
The C Ionian scale uses the notes C, D, E, F, G, A, B (one octave; the pattern repeats at higher registers).
What chords work over C Ionian?
The diatonic chords of C major: C major, ii minor, iii minor, IV major, V major (or V7), vi minor, vii°. Strong cadences use IV→V→I.
How do I finger C Ionian on Piano?
On piano, scales typically use a 1-2-3 / 1-2-3-4 thumb-under pattern for white-key scales. Black-key scales (F♯, G♭, etc.) shift the thumb-under positions onto white keys for ergonomic clearance. Hanon Exercise No. 1 and Czerny Op. 599 No. 1 work through the canonical pattern.
When would I use the Ionian scale?
The major scale labelled as a mode — the pre-tonal bright default.