About the C Whole Tone Scale
The C whole tone scale is a 6-note scale. All whole steps, dreamy and unresolved sound. Its notes are C, D, E, F#, G# and A#, built from the formula 1 2 3 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7.
- Notes
- C – D – E – F# – G# – A#
- Formula
- 1 2 3 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7
- Steps
- W W W W W W (2–2–2–2–2–2 semitones)
- Root
- C
C Whole Tone Scale degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | Root |
| 2 | D | Major 2nd |
| 3 | E | Major 3rd |
| ♭5 | F# | Tritone (♭5) |
| ♭6 | G# | Minor 6th |
| ♭7 | A# | Minor 7th |
Where to play the C Whole Tone Scale 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 | 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 |
| A2 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 |
| D3 | 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 |
| G3 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 |
| B3 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 |
| E4 | 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 |
How to practice the whole tone scale
- Practice the even whole-step pattern
- Use over augmented and 7#5 chords
- Work on Debussy-inspired voicings
- Try creating tension before resolution
- Experiment with augmented triads within
Scales with the same notes as C Whole Tone Scale
These scales share every note with the C whole tone scale but start from a different root, so the same shapes work over different chords.
Whole Tone scale in other keys
Other scales in C
- C Minor Pentatonic
- C Major Pentatonic
- C Mixolydian Pentatonic
- C Natural Minor
- C Major (Ionian)
- C Blues
- C Dorian
- C Mixolydian
- C Phrygian
- C Harmonic Minor
- C Lydian
- C Locrian
- C Diminished (Half-Whole)
- C Diminished (Whole-Half)
- C Augmented (Hexatonic)
- C Altered (Super Locrian)
- C Phrygian Dominant
- C Lydian Dominant
- C Mixolydian ♭6 (Hindu)
- C Bebop Dominant
- C Quartal (Stacked 4ths)
- C Quartal Minor (Stacked 4ths)