Chords in C Major Scale (Ionian)

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The major scale is the foundation of Western music and the most widely used scale in pop, rock, country, and classical. Its seven diatonic chords form the backbone of countless hit progressions — from the I–V–vi–IV pattern in "Let It Be" to the I–vi–IV–V of "Stand By Me." Every chord in this scale is a natural starting point for songwriting.

Transpose to any key, progressions & circle of fifths

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Formula

W-W-H-W-W-W-H

Semitones: 2-2-1-2-2-2-1

Key Signature

No sharps or flats

Explore

Major Scale (Ionian) in the glossary Key Explorer tool Browse all C chords Chord Flashcards Ear Training Metronome

Relative minorA Natural Minor

Characteristic Sound

The major scale’s bright, consonant sound comes from its major 3rd and major 7th — the two intervals that most define a major key. All seven notes form stable triads, making it the most harmonically complete scale in Western music.

Key intervals:3rd7th

Mode Family

Diatonic Mode Family

The seven diatonic modes — parallel modes starting from the same root with different interval patterns. Each mode has a unique character derived from the major scale.

Notes:

CDEFGAB

Scales with similar note sets — useful for exploring substitutions and modal interchange.

♭3 substitutionMelodic Minor Scale ♯4 substitutionLydian Mode ♭7 substitutionMixolydian Mode 5-note subsetMajor Pentatonic Scale 2 notes differentHarmonic Minor Scale

Chromatic Mediant Relationships

Chords a third away from the root — not diatonic to this scale. Common in film scoring and jazz.

m3 ↑

EbEb Ebm

M3 ↓

AbAb Abm

Major Scale (Ionian) scale FAQ

What chords are in C Major Scale (Ionian)?

The diatonic chords in C Major Scale (Ionian) are: C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am, Bdim. These are the chords built naturally from each degree of the scale.

What is the Major Scale (Ionian)?

The major scale is the most fundamental scale in Western music. Its bright, happy sound is the foundation for countless songs in pop, classical, rock, and country. Every other scale is defined by how it differs from the major scale.

What notes are in the C Major Scale (Ionian)?

The C Major Scale (Ionian) contains the notes: C, D, E, F, G, A, B. This is a 7-note scale starting from C.

How many chords does the C Major Scale (Ionian) have?

The C Major Scale (Ionian) produces 7 diatonic chords, one built on each degree of the scale: C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am, Bdim.

What is the formula for the Major Scale (Ionian)?

The Major Scale (Ionian) follows the interval formula: W-W-H-W-W-W-H (W = whole step, H = half step).