A Ionian Pentatonic Guitar Scale
Guitar scale in Open C tuning — fretboard diagram
A Ionian Pentatonic in Open C — Notes and Intervals
The A Ionian Pentatonic scale is a five-note subset that captures the essential bright spirit of the Ionian mode. On Guitar, its notes are A, C#, D, E, G#. It focuses on the most stable notes of the major scale, offering a more open and suspended sound that is useful in modern pop and contemplative acoustic music. Commonly used in Pop, Acoustic, Contemporary, Ambient. Notable players include John Mayer, Ed Sheeran. Use over Maj7, Maj9, add9 chords. Provides a modern, open sound for pop and acoustic contexts.
Notes: A, C#, D, E, G#
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 4P, 5P, 7M
Degrees: 1 2 3 4 5
Formula: 4-H-W-4-H
Number of notes: 5
Tuning: Open C (C-G-C-G-C-E)
About Open C Tuning
Open C tuning (C-G-C-G-C-E) produces a C major chord when strummed open, with an enormous bass depth from the low C string (two whole steps below standard E). The tuning spans a vast tonal range that gives compositions an almost orchestral scope, making it a favorite for both delicate fingerstyle and crushing heavy music.
John Butler's 'Ocean' — one of the most famous modern fingerstyle compositions — is performed in Open C, showcasing the tuning's incredible dynamic range from thundering bass to shimmering harmonics. Devin Townsend uses Open C extensively across his catalog for its massive, wall-of-sound potential. Jimmy Page used it on Led Zeppelin's 'Friends' from Led Zeppelin III. Soundgarden also explored Open C. The three C strings and two G strings create powerful octave resonances that make even simple chord shapes sound huge.
Notable artists: John Butler, Devin Townsend, Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), Soundgarden, William Ackerman
Best for: Cinematic fingerstyle compositions, progressive metal walls of sound, post-rock textures, and any music that needs enormous tonal range from deep bass to bright treble
Musical Character
A five-note subset that captures the Ionian mode's brightness with a more open, suspended quality than the standard major pentatonic.
Explore This Scale in Other Tunings
- A Ionian Pentatonic in Standard Tuning
- A Ionian Pentatonic in Drop D
- A Ionian Pentatonic in DADGAD
- A Ionian Pentatonic in Open G
- A Ionian Pentatonic in Baritone (B Standard)
- A Ionian Pentatonic in 7-string
- A Ionian Pentatonic in 8-string
- A Ionian Pentatonic in Drop C
- A Ionian Pentatonic in Drop B
- A Ionian Pentatonic in Open D
- A Ionian Pentatonic in Half Step Down
- A Ionian Pentatonic in Open E
- A Ionian Pentatonic in Open A
- A Ionian Pentatonic in Double Drop D