Notes in the C Whole Tone scale
| Degree | Note |
|---|---|
| 1 | C |
| 2 | D |
| 3 | E |
| ♯4 | F♯ |
| ♯5 | G♯ |
| ♭7 | B♭ |
Each note uses a different letter name, so the spelling follows the scale rather than the keyboard: C D E F♯ G♯ B♭.
C Whole Tone scale formula
The pattern of steps from one note to the next is W – W – W – W – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step). Compared with the major scale the degrees are 1 2 3 ♯4 ♯5 ♭7.
How to practise the C Whole Tone scale
Learn it as a rotation of a scale you already know (lydian dominant is melodic minor starting on its 4th note, altered starts on its 7th) and play it over the matching chord with a drone on the root.
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes in the C Whole Tone scale?
The notes of the C Whole Tone scale are C D E F♯ G♯ B♭.
What is the formula for the C Whole Tone scale?
The pattern of whole and half steps is W – W – W – W – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step). In scale degrees: 1 2 3 ♯4 ♯5 ♭7.
More C scales
C Major, C Natural Minor, C Harmonic Minor, C Melodic Minor, C Dorian, C Phrygian, C Lydian, C Mixolydian, C Locrian, C Major Pentatonic, C Minor Pentatonic, C Blues, C Lydian Dominant, C Altered, C Dorian ♭2, C Lydian Augmented, C Mixolydian ♭6, C Locrian ♯2, C Phrygian Dominant, C Hungarian Minor, C Double Harmonic, C Diminished (W–H), C Diminished (H–W), C Bebop Dominant, C Bebop Major
Explore the full scales library, find a scale from notes with the scale finder, or see every chord in every key in the chord chart.