C whole-tone scale on piano
The C whole-tone scale on piano has 6 notes: C, D, E, F sharp, G sharp, and B flat (C, D, E, F♯, G♯, B♭). It uses 3 black keys: F♯, G♯, B♭.
- C 1
- D 2
- E 3
- F♯ F sharp ♯4
- G♯ G sharp ♯5
- B♭ B flat ♭7
The highlighted keys are the notes of the scale, with the name and the degree; the tonic (C) has the strongest color. Tap a key to hear the note; "Play" goes up and down. The small dot marks middle C (C4).
Fingering for the C whole-tone scale
This scale has no single fingering in piano method books. A rule that works: never put the thumb on a black key, and pass the thumb right after a black key. Fingers: 1 = thumb, 2 = index, 3 = middle, 4 = ring, 5 = little finger.
Formula
- C
- W
- D
- W
- E
- W
- F♯
- W
- G♯
- W
- B♭
- W
- C
Degrees: 1 · 2 · 3 · ♯4 · ♯5 · ♭7. Steps: W – W – W – W – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step).
About the whole-tone scale
Six notes a whole step apart. Mysterious and dreamlike; fits augmented chords.
Scales with the same notes
More C scales
- Major
- Natural minor
- Harmonic minor
- Melodic minor
- Major pentatonic
- Minor pentatonic
- Blues
- Major blues
- Dorian
- Phrygian
- Lydian
- Mixolydian
- Locrian
- Nordestina (Brazilian baião)
- Phrygian dominant
- Whole-tone
- Diminished (whole-half)
- Dominant diminished (half-whole)
Whole-tone in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the C whole-tone scale?
The notes of the C whole-tone scale are C, D, E, F sharp, G sharp, and B flat. It uses 3 black keys: F♯, G♯, B♭.
What is the formula of the C whole-tone scale?
In degrees: 1 · 2 · 3 · ♯4 · ♯5 · ♭7. In steps between notes: W – W – W – W – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step).