Whole tone scale in C on cavaquinho
Whole tone scale in C: C, D, E, F#, G# and A#, the degrees 1–2–3–#4–#5–#6. The box shown is in open position, from the open strings up to fret 4; the lowest tonic sits on the 2nd string, fret 1, and the hand stays put in the region, with no position shift.
On the cavaquinho, four steel strings pack the scale into a short, bright space — there is nowhere for a note to hide. Its four steel strings give a bright, sharp attack that cuts through the mix and drives the beat.
Climb it slowly and name each degree out loud before speeding up.
Text description
Open strings and frets 1 to 4, 4 strings. Root (C): string 2, fret 1.
- String 4 (D): open, D, second; fret 2, E, third, finger 2; fret 4, F sharp, sharp fourth, finger 4
- String 3 (G): fret 1, G sharp, sharp fifth, finger 1; fret 3, A sharp, sharp sixth, finger 3
- String 2 (B): fret 1, C, root, finger 1; fret 3, D, second, finger 3
- String 1 (D): open, D, second; fret 2, E, third, finger 2; fret 4, F sharp, sharp fourth, finger 4
Read the dots by degree: 1 is the tonic (highlighted); the rest follow the scale's formula.