C# Whole Tone Scale Charts
Explore C# Whole Tone across the full guitar fretboard and 5 connected positions. Notes: C#, D#, F, G, A, B. Intervals: 1, 2, 3, #4, #5, b7.
C# Whole Tone full fretboard chart
C# Whole Tone uses C#, D#, F, G, A, B across frets 0-15.
| String | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | 3F | #4G | #5A | b7B | RC# | 2D# | 3F | #4G | ||||||||
| 2B | b7B | RC# | 2D# | 3F | #4G | #5A | b7B | RC# | ||||||||
| 3G | #4G | #5A | b7B | RC# | 2D# | 3F | #4G | #5A | ||||||||
| 4D | 2D# | 3F | #4G | #5A | b7B | RC# | 2D# | 3F | ||||||||
| 5A | #5A | b7B | RC# | 2D# | 3F | #4G | #5A | b7B | ||||||||
| 6E | 3F | #4G | #5A | b7B | RC# | 2D# | 3F | #4G | ||||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
String 1: F4 at fret 1 (3), G4 at fret 3 (#4), A4 at fret 5 (#5), B4 at fret 7 (b7), C#5 at fret 9 (root), D#5 at fret 11 (2), F5 at fret 13 (3), G5 at fret 15 (#4).
String 2: B3 at fret 0 (b7), C#4 at fret 2 (root), D#4 at fret 4 (2), F4 at fret 6 (3), G4 at fret 8 (#4), A4 at fret 10 (#5), B4 at fret 12 (b7), C#5 at fret 14 (root).
String 3: G3 at fret 0 (#4), A3 at fret 2 (#5), B3 at fret 4 (b7), C#4 at fret 6 (root), D#4 at fret 8 (2), F4 at fret 10 (3), G4 at fret 12 (#4), A4 at fret 14 (#5).
String 4: D#3 at fret 1 (2), F3 at fret 3 (3), G3 at fret 5 (#4), A3 at fret 7 (#5), B3 at fret 9 (b7), C#4 at fret 11 (root), D#4 at fret 13 (2), F4 at fret 15 (3).
String 5: A2 at fret 0 (#5), B2 at fret 2 (b7), C#3 at fret 4 (root), D#3 at fret 6 (2), F3 at fret 8 (3), G3 at fret 10 (#4), A3 at fret 12 (#5), B3 at fret 14 (b7).
String 6: F2 at fret 1 (3), G2 at fret 3 (#4), A2 at fret 5 (#5), B2 at fret 7 (b7), C#3 at fret 9 (root), D#3 at fret 11 (2), F3 at fret 13 (3), G3 at fret 15 (#4).
C# Whole Tone Position 1 chart
Position 1 covers frets 9-13 for C# Whole Tone.
| String | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | RC# | 2D# | 3F | ||
| 2B | #5A | b7B | |||
| 3G | 3F | #4G | |||
| 4D | b7B | RC# | 2D# | ||
| 5A | #4G | #5A | |||
| 6E | RC# | 2D# | 3F | ||
| 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
String 1: C#5 at fret 9 (root), D#5 at fret 11 (2), F5 at fret 13 (3).
String 2: A4 at fret 10 (#5), B4 at fret 12 (b7).
String 3: F4 at fret 10 (3), G4 at fret 12 (#4).
String 4: B3 at fret 9 (b7), C#4 at fret 11 (root), D#4 at fret 13 (2).
String 5: G3 at fret 10 (#4), A3 at fret 12 (#5).
String 6: C#3 at fret 9 (root), D#3 at fret 11 (2), F3 at fret 13 (3).
C# Whole Tone Position 2 chart
Position 2 covers frets 11-15 for C# Whole Tone.
| String | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | 2D# | 3F | #4G | ||
| 2B | b7B | RC# | |||
| 3G | #4G | #5A | |||
| 4D | RC# | 2D# | 3F | ||
| 5A | #5A | b7B | |||
| 6E | 2D# | 3F | #4G | ||
| 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
String 1: D#5 at fret 11 (2), F5 at fret 13 (3), G5 at fret 15 (#4).
String 2: B4 at fret 12 (b7), C#5 at fret 14 (root).
String 3: G4 at fret 12 (#4), A4 at fret 14 (#5).
String 4: C#4 at fret 11 (root), D#4 at fret 13 (2), F4 at fret 15 (3).
String 5: A3 at fret 12 (#5), B3 at fret 14 (b7).
String 6: D#3 at fret 11 (2), F3 at fret 13 (3), G3 at fret 15 (#4).
C# Whole Tone Position 3 chart
Position 3 covers frets 1-5 for C# Whole Tone.
| String | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | 3F | #4G | #5A | ||
| 2B | RC# | 2D# | |||
| 3G | #5A | b7B | |||
| 4D | 2D# | 3F | #4G | ||
| 5A | b7B | RC# | |||
| 6E | 3F | #4G | #5A | ||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
String 1: F4 at fret 1 (3), G4 at fret 3 (#4), A4 at fret 5 (#5).
String 2: C#4 at fret 2 (root), D#4 at fret 4 (2).
String 3: A3 at fret 2 (#5), B3 at fret 4 (b7).
String 4: D#3 at fret 1 (2), F3 at fret 3 (3), G3 at fret 5 (#4).
String 5: B2 at fret 2 (b7), C#3 at fret 4 (root).
String 6: F2 at fret 1 (3), G2 at fret 3 (#4), A2 at fret 5 (#5).
C# Whole Tone Position 4 chart
Position 4 covers frets 3-7 for C# Whole Tone.
| String | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | #4G | #5A | b7B | ||
| 2B | 2D# | 3F | |||
| 3G | b7B | RC# | |||
| 4D | 3F | #4G | #5A | ||
| 5A | RC# | 2D# | |||
| 6E | #4G | #5A | b7B | ||
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
String 1: G4 at fret 3 (#4), A4 at fret 5 (#5), B4 at fret 7 (b7).
String 2: D#4 at fret 4 (2), F4 at fret 6 (3).
String 3: B3 at fret 4 (b7), C#4 at fret 6 (root).
String 4: F3 at fret 3 (3), G3 at fret 5 (#4), A3 at fret 7 (#5).
String 5: C#3 at fret 4 (root), D#3 at fret 6 (2).
String 6: G2 at fret 3 (#4), A2 at fret 5 (#5), B2 at fret 7 (b7).
C# Whole Tone Position 5 chart
Position 5 covers frets 5-9 for C# Whole Tone.
| String | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | #5A | b7B | RC# | ||
| 2B | 3F | #4G | |||
| 3G | RC# | 2D# | |||
| 4D | #4G | #5A | b7B | ||
| 5A | 2D# | 3F | |||
| 6E | #5A | b7B | RC# | ||
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
String 1: A4 at fret 5 (#5), B4 at fret 7 (b7), C#5 at fret 9 (root).
String 2: F4 at fret 6 (3), G4 at fret 8 (#4).
String 3: C#4 at fret 6 (root), D#4 at fret 8 (2).
String 4: G3 at fret 5 (#4), A3 at fret 7 (#5), B3 at fret 9 (b7).
String 5: D#3 at fret 6 (2), F3 at fret 8 (3).
String 6: A2 at fret 5 (#5), B2 at fret 7 (b7), C#3 at fret 9 (root).
Whole Tone scale essentials
- Interval formula
- 1 · 2 · 3 · #4 · #5 · b7
- Characteristic tones
- #4 · #5
Practice the C# Whole Tone sound
- Say and play the scale: Play C# → D# → F → G → A → B → C# up and back down, naming the degrees 1 → 2 → 3 → #4 → #5 → b7 → 1 as you go.
- Hear its defining tones: pause on G (#4), A (#5) before landing on C#. Listen for how those characteristic tones color the phrase.
- Connect the positions: Work through all 5 position charts. Start in Position 1 (frets 9–13), then repeat a short phrase from the root in each shape. Use the full fretboard chart to find the next C# as you move between positions.
Continue with this scale
Take Whole Tone into the matching course and practice resources.