C Leading Whole Tone Guitar Scale
Guitar scale — fretboard diagram
C Leading Whole Tone Scale — Notes and Intervals
The C Leading Whole Tone scale is a symmetrical scale that combines the weightless blur of the whole-tone system with a final bit of traditional resolution tension. On Guitar, its notes are C, D, E, F#, G#, Bb, B. It is used to create a sense of floating that eventually finds a home. Commonly used in Impressionist, Film Scores, Jazz. Notable players include Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel. Use as a transition device or over augmented chords that need to resolve. The leading tone provides a gentle gravitational pull absent in pure whole tone.
Notes: C, D, E, F#, G#, Bb, B
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3M, 4A, 5A, 7m, 7M
Degrees: 1 2 3 #4 #5 b6 7
Formula: W-W-W-W-W-H-H
Number of notes: 7
How to Play C Leading Whole Tone on Guitar
Place your index finger at fret 8 on the 6th (low E) to find your C root note. Use a three-notes-per-string fingering to cover the full scale in one position, or learn the CAGED shapes to navigate the entire fretboard. An alternative starting point is open position.
The C Leading Whole Tone scale contains both sharps and flats (2 sharps, 1 flat), which is common in altered and exotic scales. This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.
Practice Routine
Practice the C Leading Whole Tone scale by playing it ascending with one rhythmic feel (straight eighth notes) and descending with another (swing or triplets) at 80 BPM. This dual approach trains both technical accuracy and rhythmic versatility with the 7 notes of the scale.
Exotic scales like the Leading Whole Tone often work best as a melodic layer over a single root drone on C. Let the unique intervals speak for themselves without frequent chord changes.
Guitar Tips
On guitar, try playing the C Leading Whole Tone scale using legato technique (hammer-ons and pull-offs) to develop a smooth, connected sound. This is particularly effective for longer scale runs.
The C Leading Whole Tone scale contains 7 notes (C, D, E, F#, G#, Bb, B). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for C Leading Whole Tone
The C Leading Whole Tone scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 7-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.
Explore C Leading Whole Tone Further
- Harmonize the C Leading Whole Tone scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- C Leading Whole Tone on Ukulele
- C Leading Whole Tone on Bass
- C Leading Whole Tone on Piano
Explore C Leading Whole Tone in Other Tunings
- C Leading Whole Tone in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- C Leading Whole Tone in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- C Leading Whole Tone in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- C Leading Whole Tone in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- C Leading Whole Tone in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- C Leading Whole Tone in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- C Leading Whole Tone in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- C Leading Whole Tone in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- C Leading Whole Tone in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- C Leading Whole Tone in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- C Leading Whole Tone in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- C Leading Whole Tone in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- C Leading Whole Tone in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- C Leading Whole Tone in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)