About the C#/Db Major Scale (Ionian)
The C#/Db major scale is a 7-note scale. The foundation of Western music theory. Its notes are C#, D#, F, F#, G#, A# and C, built from the formula 1 2 3 4 5 6 7.
- Notes
- C# – D# – F – F# – G# – A# – C
- Formula
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
- Steps
- W W H W W W H (2–2–1–2–2–2–1 semitones)
- Root
- C#/Db
C#/Db Major Scale (Ionian) degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C# | Root |
| 2 | D# | Major 2nd |
| 3 | F | Major 3rd |
| 4 | F# | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | G# | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | A# | Major 6th |
| 7 | C | Major 7th |
Where to play the C#/Db Major Scale (Ionian) on guitar
Frets 0–12 in standard tuning (E A D G B E), lowest string first. Root notes (C#) are highlighted; the pattern repeats from the 12th fret up.
| String | Frets |
|---|---|
| E2 | 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11 |
| A2 | 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11 |
| D3 | 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11 |
| G3 | 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11 |
| B3 | 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11 |
| E4 | 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11 |
How to practice the major scale
- Master the 3-note-per-string patterns
- Practice scale sequences (3rds, 4ths)
- Work on position shifts while playing
- Play over I-IV-V progressions
- Focus on resolving to the root note
Scales with the same notes as C#/Db Major Scale (Ionian)
These scales share every note with the C#/Db major scale but start from a different root, so the same shapes work over different chords.
Major scale in other keys
Other scales in C#/Db
- C#/Db Minor Pentatonic
- C#/Db Major Pentatonic
- C#/Db Mixolydian Pentatonic
- C#/Db Natural Minor
- C#/Db Blues
- C#/Db Dorian
- C#/Db Mixolydian
- C#/Db Phrygian
- C#/Db Harmonic Minor
- C#/Db Lydian
- C#/Db Locrian
- C#/Db Diminished (Half-Whole)
- C#/Db Diminished (Whole-Half)
- C#/Db Whole Tone
- C#/Db Augmented (Hexatonic)
- C#/Db Altered (Super Locrian)
- C#/Db Phrygian Dominant
- C#/Db Lydian Dominant
- C#/Db Mixolydian ♭6 (Hindu)
- C#/Db Bebop Dominant
- C#/Db Quartal (Stacked 4ths)
- C#/Db Quartal Minor (Stacked 4ths)