C Ionian (major)
A diatonic mode with a major 3rd and major 7th; a stable major sound.
Octaves
Musical context
How the mode relates to the scale, chord, key and progression.
Theory
General info
- Name
- C Ionian (major)
- Family
- Diatonic modes
- Note count
- 7
- Step formula
- W – W – H – W – W – W – H
Notes & degrees
1Croot
2Dmajor 2nd
3Emajor 3rd
4Fperfect 4th
5Gperfect 5th
6Amajor 6th
7Bmajor 7th
Construction
- Overview
- A diatonic mode with a major 3rd and major 7th; a stable major sound.
- Application in music
- Identical to the natural major scale and forms the modal basis of a major key.
- Interval formula
- CWDWEHFWGWAWB
- Reference mode
- C Ionian
C Ionian (major) coincides with the C Ionian mode — it is the reference itself.
How the mode is built
- Position in the system
- Degree 1 of the parent major scale
- Parent scale
- The Ionian mode is itself the major scale
Sibling modes
Chords by degree
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
ICpoint of resttonic
IIIEdefines modal qualitythird
VGsupports the tonic sonorityfifth
Typical resolutions & tensions
VIIBB
ICC
In typical voice leading, the leading tone rises by semitone to tonic.
IIIEE
IVFF
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
ICC
IIDD
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.
This mode on guitar 🎸
See how C Ionian (major) looks on guitar.
Circle of fifths
The major key on the same tonic and its neighbouring keys on the circle of fifths.
Connections
Practice
Keyboard Trainer
Reinforce it in practice — play and name notes on the interactive keyboard.