SCALE · ON VIOLA (TREBLE CLEF)
C𝄪 Major
The bright, stable home of common-practice tonality.
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 Compare with 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𝄪 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 Viola (treble clef)?
On bowed strings, scales train both fingering and bow technique. First-position fingerings cover most scales up to one octave; second-, third-, and fourth-position shifts unlock the higher register. The 1-2-3-4 finger pattern adapts to the half-step + whole-step positions per scale.
When would I use the Major scale?
The bright, stable home of common-practice tonality.