C Major
The bright, stable home of common-practice tonality. Whole-whole-half-whole-whole-whole-half pattern across seven letters.
Audio source: tonejs-instruments by Nick Brosowsky (MIT)
What notes are in the C Major scale?
The C Major scale uses the notes C, D, E, F, G, A, B (one octave; the pattern repeats at higher registers).
What chords work over C Major?
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 Major 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 Major scale?
The bright, stable home of common-practice tonality. Whole-whole-half-whole-whole-whole-half pattern across seven letters.