The Wayfarers's Waltzing Matilda - General Version is in the key of C Major, moving at 103 BPM. The Camelot code 8B tells you which neighbouring keys will sound smooth alongside it. Here's everything you need: scale, chords, raga, and related songs.
Scale & Notes of C Major
The C Major scale is built from these seven notes:
CDEFGAB
Its relative key is A Minor (same notes), and its parallel key is C Minor. If you're transposing or looking for a vocal-comfortable key, those are the natural neighbours.
Chords in C Major
The seven diatonic triads in this key — the chord palette most of the song will draw from:
| Degree | Chord | Quality |
|---|
| I | C | Major |
| ii | Dm | Minor |
| iii | Em | Minor |
| IV | F | Major |
| V | G | Major |
| vi | Am | Minor |
| vii° | Bdim | Diminished |
Indian Classical: the Bilawal thaat
In Hindustani classical terms, C Major maps to the Bilawal thaat (Western mode: Ionian (Major)). Equivalent to the Western major scale. Bright, resolute, joyful character. Traditional listening time: Morning to Afternoon.
If you want to sing or practise in this key, set your tonic (Sa) to C. Ragas built on this thaat:
- Alhaiya Bilawal — Major scale with an occasional ♭7 passing note. Serene, devotional (Morning).
- Shankara — Pentatonic major (omits 4th & 7th). Heroic, powerful (Night).
- Bihag — Major scale with both ♮4 and ♯4 (Lydian touch). Romantic, intimate (Late Night).
- Durga — Major pentatonic (Sa Re Ga Pa Dha). Uplifting, celebratory (Evening).
- Vrindavani Sarang — Major with omitted 3rd — skeletal, pentatonic feel. Longing, pastoral (Afternoon).
Set Tanpura to C →Practise in this key →Find another song's key →
Harmonic mixing (for DJs)
Waltzing Matilda - General Version sits at Camelot 8B. For a smooth harmonic transition, mix it with tracks in 7B, 8A, 9B — adjacent keys on the Camelot wheel that share most of their notes.