C# Ionian (major)
A diatonic mode with a major 3rd and major 7th; a stable major sound.
Octaves
Musical context
How the scale relates to the chord, mode, key and progression.
Theory
General info
- Name
- C# Ionian (major)
- Family
- Diatonic scales
- Note count
- 7
- Step formula
- W – W – H – W – W – W – H
- Numeric formula
- 0-2-2-1-2-2-2-1
Notes & degrees
1C#root
2D#major 2nd
3E#major 3rd
4F#perfect 4th
5G#perfect 5th
6A#major 6th
7B#major 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
- C#WD#WE#HF#WG#WA#WB#
Chords by degree
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
IC#point of resttonic
IIIE#defines modal qualitythird
VG#supports the tonic sonorityfifth
Typical resolutions & tensions
VIIB#B#
IC#C#
In typical voice leading, the leading tone rises by semitone to tonic.
IIIE#E#
IVF#F#
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
IC#C#
IID#D#
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.
This scale 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.