
Click on sample images to view pages.
Sample pages may appear faded, cropped, or partially obscured.
Downloaded copies do not include these imperfections and are the most up-to-date versions, including all edits, additions and revisions in a printer friendly format.
View or download the PDF file for the complete lesson.
Some lessons are part of the Study with Curt! and Curt Sheller Publications Site Membership premium lesson series.
The Major Scale
A scale is a series or group of musical notes collected in ascending or descending order. A scale is used for creating melody and harmony.
The distance between two successive notes in a scale is called a scale step.
Here are some characteristics of scales.
- Typically listed low to high.
- Described according to the intervals they contain: diatonic, chromatic, whole tone
- Described by the number of pitches they contain: pentatonic (5), hexatonic (6), heptatonic (7), etc.
Scales in traditional Western music generally consist of seven notes and repeat at the octave.
The term scale and mode are used interchangeably and in a strict theory sense there is a big difference between a scale and a mode or scale mode. They are NOT the same, even if they contain the same notes.
A mode is just a collection of the notes. If all notes are equal it's just a scale and you can name it whatever you like. If one note is emphasized over the others then it's one of the modes.
Major Scales
A major scale can be seen as two identical tetrachords separated by a whole tone, or whole step. A tetrachord is a series of three intervals filling in the interval of a perfect fourth separated by a whole tone, or whole step. Or a set of steps Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half. Each tetrachord consists of two whole steps followed by a half step. Western scales do not skip any line or space on the staff, and they do not repeat any note with a different accidental. This has the effect of forcing the key signature to feature just sharps or just flats.
Any major scale can be figured out using this step sequence.
C Major is: C W D W E H F W G W A W B H C'
The C Major Scale
C D E F G A B C' - The white keys of a piano.

Each note of a major scale can be numbered relative to its distance or number of steps from the tonic or One, the first note of the scale.

These numbers are also referred to as scale steps. D is the second, E the third, F the fourth, G the fifth, A the sixth, B the seventh and finally, C again at the octave.
They also have the familiar solfège names"
- Do
- Re
- Mi
- Fa
- So
- La
- Si or Ti
C Major Scale Uses
Ear Training - Using familiar songs you can train your ear to recognize common intervals.
Using a fixed Do and ascending intervals here are some common songs you can use.
- Do to Do - C to C, Perfect Unison [ Happy Birthday to You ]
This one should be easy as the note does not change. If you really have a hard time hearing this one you might consider a different hobby or career.
- Do, Re - C to D, Major Second [ Frère Jacques)
- Do, Mi - C to E, Major Third [ Michael Row Your Boat Ashore, Kumbaya, Do-Re-Mi (first and third notes) ]
- Do, Fa - C to F, Perfect Fourth [ Here Comes the Bride, Amazing Grace, Smells Like Teen Spirit, The Look of Love ]
- Do, Sol - C to G, Perfect Fifth [ Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, My Favorite Things, Georgie Girl, Scarborough Fair, Theme from Star Wars ]
- Do, La - C to A, Major Sixth [ My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean, NBC Theme Song, Take the 'A' Train ]
- Do, Si - C to B, Major Seventh [ Theme from Fantasy Island ]
- Do to Do - C to C, Perfect Octave [ Over the Rainbow, Hi Ho Hi Ho, The Christmas Song, Let It Snow ]
Here is a related lesson and with more more information on Ear Training.
C Major Scale Chords
The chords for a C major scale are:
Triads: C Dm Em F G Am Bdim. 4-part “jazz” Chords: Cmaj7 Dm7 Em7 Fmaj7 G7 Am7 Bm7b5
The sequence of major, minor, minor, major, major, minor, diminished. Is the same sequence for ALL the major keys. And, by starting the sequence at a different spot is is also the same chords for the scale mode: Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian and Ionian.
You can get a lot out of this sequence.

C Major Scale as Your Reference Scale
From the C major scale you can get the other major scales and their modes, major, relative minor and modes key signatures and the chords of the same.
Just memorize the key signature of the major keys and substitute place the sharp or flats in the circle of notes. Use a chart or the major scale step pattern: W W H W W W H, to figure out the scale.
From the Major scales you can get the Traditional Scales: Natural Minor, Minor, Harmonic Minor, Melodic Minor, Tonic Minor, Diminished and Whole Tone.
Scale Modes: Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian
Contemporary Scales: Blues, Minor Pentatonic and Major Pentatonic
Altered Scales: Mixolydian +4, Mixolydian -2-6
Some scales are know by different names. Mixolydian is the Dominant scale. The Mixolydian +4 is the Lydian Dominant. Lots of names for the same scales.
Open position C Major scale on Ukulele
Open position C Major scale on Guitar
Open Position C Major Scale - C Tuning, Ukulele
Related Lessons for: Scales
Here a few lessons that might be of interest to the topic and principles covered in this lesson.
46 Lesson(s)
|
Lesson content icons: | |||
Common Chord Progressions for the Key of A
Common chord progressions for the key of A. UL47c: Published: February 15, 2013, 12:45 pm | Updated: April 14, 2013, 3:41 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Common Chord Progressions for the Key of Ab
Common chord progressions for the key of Ab. UL55c: Published: February 15, 2013, 12:47 pm | Updated: April 14, 2013, 3:40 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Common Chord Progressions for the Key of B
Common chord progressions for the key of B. UL49c: Published: February 15, 2013, 12:47 pm | Updated: April 14, 2013, 3:40 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Common Chord Progressions for the Key of Bb
Common chord progressions for the key of Bb. UL53c: Published: February 15, 2013, 12:47 pm | Updated: April 14, 2013, 3:40 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Common Chord Progressions for the Key of C#
Common chord progressions for the key of C#. UL51c: Published: February 15, 2013, 12:47 pm | Updated: April 14, 2013, 3:40 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Common Chord Progressions for the Key of Cb
Common chord progressions for the key of Cb. UL58c: Published: February 15, 2013, 12:48 pm | Updated: April 14, 2013, 3:40 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Common Chord Progressions for the Key of Db
Common chord progressions for the key of Db. UL56c: Published: February 15, 2013, 12:48 pm | Updated: April 14, 2013, 3:40 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Common Chord Progressions for the Key of E
Common chord progressions for the key of E. UL48c: Published: February 15, 2013, 12:46 pm | Updated: April 14, 2013, 3:40 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Common Chord Progressions for the Key of Eb
Common chord progressions for the key of Eb. UL54c: Published: February 15, 2013, 12:47 pm | Updated: April 14, 2013, 3:40 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Common Chord Progressions for the Key of F
Common chord progressions for the key of F. UL52c: Published: February 15, 2013, 12:47 pm | Updated: April 14, 2013, 3:40 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Common Chord Progressions for the Key of F#
Common chord progressions for the key of F#. UL50c: Published: February 15, 2013, 12:47 pm | Updated: April 14, 2013, 3:40 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Common Chord Progressions for the Key of G
Common chord progressions for the key of G. UL45c: Published: February 15, 2013, 12:42 pm | Updated: April 5, 2013, 8:10 am | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Connecting Scale Positions on Ukulele
Whether it’s connecting licks, riffs, scale positions, arpeggios, sequences or melodies – navigating the fingerboard and connecting positions it's all about using the fingering principles from my book The Six Secrets of Ukulele Fingering. UL28: Published: January 12, 2013, 1:42 pm | Updated: April 19, 2013, 12:57 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Diminished Scale for Ukulele - C Tuning
The Diminished scale is a symmetrical scale with a repeating pattern of whole steps and half steps. UL25b: Published: January 2, 2005, 12:00 pm | Updated: April 30, 2013, 10:50 am | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Essential Bb Major Scale Patterns for Ukulele
Essential Bb Major scale patterns for ukulele. UL04-Bb-ION: Published: February 5, 2013, 9:38 pm | Updated: April 22, 2013, 3:53 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Essential C Major Scale Patterns for Ukulele
Essential C Major scale patterns for ukulele. UL04-C-ION: Published: February 5, 2013, 9:40 pm | Updated: April 22, 2013, 3:53 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Essential D Major Scale Patterns for Ukulele
Essential D Major scale patterns for ukulele. UL04-D-ION: Published: February 5, 2013, 9:42 pm | Updated: April 22, 2013, 3:53 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Essential Db Major Scale Patterns for Ukulele
Essential Db Major scale patterns for ukulele. UL04-Db-ION: Published: February 5, 2013, 9:38 pm | Updated: April 22, 2013, 3:53 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Essential Eb Major Scale Patterns for Ukulele
Essential Eb Major scale patterns for ukulele. UL04-Eb-ION: Published: February 5, 2013, 9:38 pm | Updated: April 22, 2013, 3:53 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Essential F Major Scale Patterns for Ukulele
Essential F Major scale patterns for ukulele. UL04-F-ION: Published: February 5, 2013, 9:43 pm | Updated: April 22, 2013, 3:53 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Essential G Major Scale Patterns for Ukulele
Essential G Major scale patterns for ukulele. UL04-G-ION: Published: February 5, 2013, 9:38 pm | Updated: April 22, 2013, 3:53 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Essential Jazz Scales for Ukulele
After you mastering the six essentials scales below and start to explore more advances styles of music, especially jazz. There are a few more scales that are needed to cover the broader harmonic palette that a typical jazz tune draws from. UL04j: Published: October 5, 2012, 11:29 am | Updated: April 22, 2013, 3:53 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Harmonic Analysis - Scale Selection
MLRMAe-10: Published: April 6, 2012, 9:31 pm | Updated: April 22, 2013, 3:54 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Learning The Blues Scale on Ukulele
A practical approach to learning the Blues scale on ukulele. The Blues scale is one of the first scale most plays whatn to learn. It's a great to build on for your additional essential scales. UL13: Published: January 2, 2005, 12:00 pm | Updated: April 9, 2013, 12:31 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Primary Chords - C Major
The primary chords for any major key are the I, IV and V chords of it's corresponding major scale. For C Major the primary chords are: C, F, G and G7 UL44a: Published: February 8, 2013, 12:36 pm | Updated: April 14, 2013, 3:41 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Primary Chords - Cb Major
The primary chords for any major key are the I, IV and V chords of it's corresponding major scale. For Cb Major the primary chords are: Cb, Fb, Gb and Gb7 UL58a: Published: February 8, 2013, 12:48 pm | Updated: April 14, 2013, 3:40 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Primary Chords - E Major
The primary chords for any major key are the I, IV and V chords of it's corresponding major scale. For E Major the primary chords are: E, A, B and B7 UL48a: Published: February 8, 2013, 12:42 pm | Updated: April 14, 2013, 3:40 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Primary Chords - G Major
Primary chords for the key of G. UL45a: Published: February 15, 2013, 12:39 pm | Updated: April 5, 2013, 8:15 am | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Secondary Chords - C Major
The secondary chords for any major key are the II, III and VI chords of it's corresponding major scale. For C Major the secondary chords are: Dm, Em and Am UL44b: Published: February 8, 2013, 12:53 pm | Updated: April 14, 2013, 3:40 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Secondary Chords - E Major
The secondary chords for any major key are the II, III and VI chords of it's corresponding major scale. For E Major the secondary chords are: F#m, G#m and C#m UL48b: Published: February 8, 2013, 12:57 pm | Updated: April 14, 2013, 3:40 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Six Essential Scales - Aeolian/Natural Minor Chords
Aeolian/Natural Minor is one of the six essential scales that every ukulele player should know. Here are the chords for all 15 Aeolian/Natural Minor scales. UL04-QS-AEOLc: Published: February 7, 2013, 12:41 pm | Updated: April 22, 2013, 3:53 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Six Essential Scales - Aeolian/Natural Minor Scale Shapes
Scale shapes summary for Aeolian/Natural Minor, one of the six essential scales that every ukulele player should know. The scale formula for this scale, based on the major scale is: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 8`. UL04-QS-AEOLs: Published: February 7, 2013, 1:22 pm | Updated: April 22, 2013, 3:53 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Six Essential Scales - Blues/Minor Pentatonic Chords
Blues/Minor Pentatonic is one of the six essential scales that every ukulele player should know. Here are the chords for all 15 Blues/Minor Pentatonic scales. UL04-QS-BLUESc: Published: February 7, 2013, 12:45 pm | Updated: April 22, 2013, 3:53 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Six Essential Scales - Blues/Minor Pentatonic Scale Shapes
Scale shapes summary for Blues/Minor Pentatonic, one of the six essential scales that every ukulele player should know. The scale formula for this scale, based on the major scale is: 1 b3 4 5 b7 8`. UL04-QS-BLUESs: Published: February 7, 2013, 1:22 pm | Updated: April 22, 2013, 3:53 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Six Essential Scales - Dorian/Minor Chords
Dorian/Minor is one of the six essential scales that every ukulele player should know. Here are the chords for all 15 Dorian/Minor scales. UL04-QS-DORc: Published: February 7, 2013, 12:44 pm | Updated: April 22, 2013, 3:53 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Six Essential Scales - Dorian/Minor Scale Shapes
Scale shapes summary for Dorian.Minor, one of the six essential scales that every ukulele player should know. The scale formula for this scale, based on the major scale is: 1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7 8`. UL04-QS-DORs: Published: February 7, 2013, 1:24 pm | Updated: April 22, 2013, 3:53 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Six Essential Scales - Ionian/Major Chords
Ionian/Major is one of the six essential scales that every ukulele player should know. Here are the chords for all 15 Ionian.major scale. UL04-QS-IONc: Published: February 7, 2013, 12:35 pm | Updated: April 22, 2013, 3:53 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Six Essential Scales - Ionian/Major Scale Shapes
Scale shapes summary for Ionian/Major, one of the six essential scales that every ukulele player should know. The scale formula for this scale, based on the major scale is: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8`. UL04-QS-IONs: Published: February 7, 2013, 1:23 pm | Updated: April 22, 2013, 3:53 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Six Essential Scales - Mixolydian/Dominant Scale Shapes
Scale shapes summary for Mixolydian/Dominant, one of the six essential scales that every ukulele player should know. The scale formula for this scale, based on the major scale is: 1 2 3 4 5 6 b7 8`. UL04-QS-MIXs: Published: February 7, 2013, 1:24 pm | Updated: April 22, 2013, 3:53 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Six Essential Scales - Pentatonic/Major Pentatonic Chords
Pentatonic/Major Pentatonic is one of the six essential scales that every ukulele player should know. Here are the chords for all 15 Pentatonic/Major Pentatonic scales. UL04-QS-PENTc: Published: February 7, 2013, 12:46 pm | Updated: April 22, 2013, 3:53 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Six Essential Scales - Pentatonic/Major Pentatonic Scale Shapes
Scale shapes summary for Pentatonic/Major Pentatonic, one of the six essential scales that every ukulele player should know. The scale formula for this scale, based on the major scale is: 1 2 3 5 6 8`. UL04-QS-PENTs: Published: February 7, 2013, 1:21 pm | Updated: April 22, 2013, 3:53 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Six Essential Scales for Ukulele
The six essential scales are: Blues, Major Pentatonic, Mixolydian, Dorian, Aeolian, and Ionian. These six can get you through a wide variety of traditional and contemporary music. UL04: Published: January 2, 2005, 12:00 pm | Updated: April 22, 2013, 3:53 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Ukulele Doodling - An Introduction to Scales and Soloing on Ukulele
An Introduction to Scales and Soloing on Ukulele using the C Pentatonic Scale. Taking what you might already know and using it in different ways. Exploring the entire ukulele fingerboard. Anyone can have hours of fun just doodling around and exploring the ukulele's possibilities. UL107: Published: January 2, 2005, 12:00 pm | Updated: May 7, 2013, 9:55 am | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Ukulele Scale Diagram Explained
The ukulele scale diagram is explained. A chord or scale grid is an alternate, visual why of showing a scale pattern. Ul72: Published: April 9, 2013, 10:01 am | Updated: April 9, 2013, 8:06 am | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
What is the different between a Scale and a Mode?
The term scale and mode are used interchangeably and in a strict theory sense there is a big difference between a scale and a mode or modal scale. They are NOT the same, even if they are the same notes. A scale and mode can contain exactly the same notes. UL110: Published: January 2, 2005, 12:00 pm | Updated: April 19, 2013, 1:20 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Whole Tone Scale for Ukulele - C Tuning
The Whole Tone scale is a symmetrical scale with an equal distance been each note or scale degree. UL25: Published: January 2, 2005, 12:00 pm | Updated: April 30, 2013, 10:54 am | Author: Curt Sheller | |||
Lesson Info
I constantly read online and hear. "Is, where, what site, what software is there for this or that chord or all the chord voicings." Well camper! It's not here. Chord dictionaries, software, web sites are not the answer. Even chord theory does not offer any insight into unraveling the complexity of chord voicings.
Learning basic open position chords and the basic movable form chords presented in the Chord of the Week Lessons I presented in 2007 will set you up for the more advanced chords, typically called “jazz” chords.
These Movable Form Chords lessons have been updated, enhanced and now reside in the Members Subscription area for all basic and Members.
Related Books
All book sizes are 8.5" x 11" unless noted and music stand friendly, "lay flat" coil binding.
QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele, Volume I, C Tuning
Six essential scales for C tuned ukuleles. Blues, Pentatonic, Dorian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Ionian scales are covered in all keys with one octave scale fingerings starting on any finger.
The QuickStart series of scale fingering books are available in a variety of tunings for ukulele, guitar and bass guitar.
Tunings: C with low or high G - (GCEA or gCEA).
More info, samples, table of contents, audio, video and more...
ISBN-13: 978-0-9714044-6-5 Published: September 2003 Pages 98
QuickStartScale Fingerings for Tenor and Baritone Ukulele, Volume I, G Tuning
Six essential scales for G tuned ukuleles. Blues, Pentatonic, Dorian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Ionian scales are covered in all keys with fingerings.
The QuickStart series of scale fingering books are available in a variety of tunings.
Tunings: G with low or high D - (DGBE or dGBE).
More info, samples, table of contents, audio, video and more...
ISBN-13: 978-0-9714044-5-8 Published: March 2004 Pages 98
QuickStart Arpeggio Fingerings for Ukulele - Triads C Tuning
Major, minor, diminished and augmented arpeggios fingerings in all keys for C tuned ukuleles.
Available in C and G tunings.
Tunings: C with low or high G - (GCEA or gCEA).
More info, samples, table of contents, audio, video and more...
ISBN-13: 978-1-60321-016-4 Published: November 2005 Pages 96
QuickStart Arpeggio Fingerings for Ukulele - Triads G Tuning
Major, minor, diminished and augmented arpeggios fingerings in all keys for G tuned ukuleles.
Available in C and G tunings.
Tunings: G with low or high D - (DGBE or dGBE).
More info, samples, table of contents, audio, video and more...
ISBN-13: 978-1-60321-017-1 Published: November 2005 Pages 96
Six Secrets of Ukulele Fingering
Learn the principles to navigating the ukulele* fingerboard.
Fingering is one of the most universal topics. Whether your style is Rock, Blues, Country, Jazz or Classical, these principles will improve your technique, your solos, even your sight reading.
Think of fingering as a series of pathways. When you learn to connect these pathways, there are benefits not only to technique but also to creativity. All fingering on the ukulele can be reduced to 6 principles of motion. Each principle has physical and musical characteristics that you can use to improve your playing.
* The fingering principles in the books are suitable for ANY ukulele tuning.
More info, samples, table of contents, audio, video and more...
ISBN-13: 978-1-60321-041-6 Published: March 2006 Pages 42
Ukulele- Reading Music Series - Primer
Learn to read single note melodies in the first/open position. It is a lot easier than you might think with this step-by-step easy to use approach.
Tunings: C with low or high G - (GCEA or gCEA).
More info, samples, table of contents, audio, video and more...
ISBN-13: 978-0-9714044-1-0 Published: July 2006 Pages 80
Harmonic Analysis for Scale Selection and Chord Substitution
Harmonic Analysis is the understanding of the functional sequence of chords. It is the process used to analyze the harmonic structure of a progression, song or composition. This analysis is then used to make scale selections for improvisation and chord substitution.
More info, samples, table of contents, audio, video and more...
ISBN-13: 978-0-9714044-2-7 Published: January 2003 Pages 90
PDF/eBook
Printable PDF
$4.95
NOW - With quick download after payment.
Apple iBook Available
Modular Phonetic Rhythm, The Foundation and Workbook 1
Modular Phonetic Rhythm represents a significant advance in the teaching and application of rhythm. Eliminating many inefficient aspects of rhythm education, Modular Phonetic Rhythm streamlines the traditional educational approach, resulting in a reflexive reaction to rhythm.
ISBN-13: NA Published: September 2008 Pages 74

















