C major

C major (or the key of C) is a major scale based on C, consisting of the pitches C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. C major is one of the most common keys used in music. Its key signature has no flats or sharps. Its relative minor is A minor and its parallel minor is C minor.

The C major scale is:

On the piano, the C major scale can be played by playing only the white keys starting on C.

Scale degree chords

The scale-degree chords of C major are:

• Tonic – C major
• Supertonic – D minor
• Mediant – E minor
• Subdominant – F major
• Dominant – G major
• Submediant – A minor
• Leading-tone – B diminished

Compositions

Twenty of Joseph Haydn's 106 symphonies are in C major, making it his second most-used key, second to D major. Of the 134 symphonies mistakenly attributed to Haydn that H. C. Robbins Landon lists in his catalog, 33 are in C major, more than any other key. Before the invention of the valves, Haydn did not write trumpet and timpani parts in his symphonies, except those in C major. Landon writes that it wasn't "until 1774 that Haydn uses trumpets and timpani in a key other than C major... and then only sparingly." Most of Haydn's symphonies in C major are labelled "festive" and are of a primarily celebratory mood. Wilfrid Mellers believed that Mozart's Symphony No. 41, written in 'white' C major, "represented the triumph of light". (See also List of symphonies in C major.)

Many masses and settings of the Te Deum in the Classical era were in C major. Mozart and Haydn wrote most of their masses in C major. Gounod (in a review of Sibelius' Third Symphony) said that "only God composes in C major". Six of his own masses are written in C.

Of Franz Schubert's two symphonies in the key, the first is nicknamed the "Little C major" and the second the "Great C major".

Scott Joplin's "The Entertainer" is written in C major.

Many musicians have pointed out that every musical key conjures up specific feelings. This idea is further explored in a radio program called The Signature Series. American popular songwriter Bob Dylan claimed the key of C major to "be the key of strength, but also the key of regret". Sibelius's Symphony No. 7 is in C major and that key was of great importance in his previous symphonies.

Notable examples

See also

• Key (music)
• Major and minor
• Chord (music)
• Chord notation

References

Further reading

• David Wyn Jones, "The Beginning of the Symphony", in A Guide to the Symphony edited by Robert Layton. Oxford University Press.
• H. C. Robbins Landon, Haydn Symphonies, BBC Music Guides 1986 [1966] ISBN 9780563205159 OCLC 317594202

External links

• Media related to C major at Wikimedia Commons
• "Interactive piano and guitar reference to the C major scale", muted.io
• "Learn to play C major scale on Guitar with notes and scale position", musicmaster.in

1. C-sharp major
2. Major Major Major Major
3. C. major
4. C-flat major
5. Mass in C major
6. John C. Major
7. Guitar chord
8. Key signature
9. C minor
10. C (musical note)
11. Major chord
12. G major
13. Major scale
14. Prelude in C major
15. B major
16. F major
17. List of compositions by Franz Schubert by genre
18. Symphony No. 1 in C major
19. Piano Sonata in C major
20. Piano Concerto in C major