Piano Scales

The Easy Way to Learn
Major and Minor Piano Scales

The other scales use different fingerings, but they will be much easier to learn once you get used to playing this basic fingering pattern.

Free Video Lesson: Learn Easy Piano Scales!

Step 1:

We will learn the C major scale in one octave. This is your “template” for all the other scales. (It is also called the Ionian scale).



With your right hand (if you are left handed you should start with your left hand, look below.), play finger nr. 1 (the thumb) on C. Finger 2 on D, finger 3 on E, then slide your thumb under and continue with finger 1 on F, 2 on G, 3 on A, 4 on B and finally finish with 5 on C one octave higher. The finger pattern you use is: 123-12345.

Practice to play several times going up the scale to really set the pattern and fingering, then take the same road down: 54321-321.

All set? OK. Now practice your left hand the opposite way. Start with finger 5 on a lower C, then play upwards: 54321 slide over your 3rd finger and continue 321. Practice several times going up and then going downwards.

If you would like my free printable scales, click here for your free piano notes: piano music scales.

Finish each scale after playing up and down, with a major chord. Play simultaneously the notes on the 1st,3rd and 5th step of the scale: For example; when you have played the C major scale you will play the notes C-E-G with fingers 1-3-5.



After you have learned to play the C major scale in each hand fluently, you are ready for...

Step 2:

When you finish each of the piano scales on a chord, you will find the first note of your next scale on the 5th note. From C that was G. So now we will play the G major scale.

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Remember this simple rule:

Playing each new scale a 5th up from the previous, (follows the Circle of the fifths by the way) lets you keep exactly the same notes you used before- with one exception- the 7th step must always be raised ½ step higher each new scale!

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So, when playing the G major scale you will use all the white keys- as in C major- and the same fingering as well. Except for the 7th step in the scale; the F will be changed to F#. That’s it! Finish with the G major chord. What’s your 5th note? Right! D!

Here we go;

The D major scale shares the same notes/ keys on the piano as G major. So, we now have F# from before. PLUS one more new “black” key on the 7th step: C#. Finish the scale in D major with a chord (Remember that the F is F#)? OK.

Again… our next scale is… A major! Great job! So what “old” black keys do we keep? F# and C#. And the new one? On the 7th step- remember? A-B-C#-D-E-F#.....G#(NEW!)-and A. Play the A major chord (It has a C# in the middle!!).

Next and final scale with the same fingering in major:E major! Old raised “inherited” keys? F#, C#, G#. What is the new one? D#! You got it!

Now practice these scales every day in each hand for 2-3 days. Then get back here and I’ll show you more!

Step 3:

Do you know your 5 major scales fluently now? All right- let us continue with 5 minor scales.

First, play a C major scale in your right hand. Notice where the 3rd and the 6th steps are. These steps will be lowered ½ step. This will create a “harmonic” minor scale.

So, let’s play: C-D-E: 3rd step, so lower to Eb-F-G-A: 6th step, lower to Ab-B-C.

Cool! The harmonic scale gives a very special “snake charming” sound- don’t you think? Beautiful!

Now, your next major scale is G. Play first the major to review- then the harmonic minor.

Remember: For harmonic minor, the major scale needs to lower the 3rd and 6th step. This is the same going up and down the scale. Sometimes you need to use a black key, sometimes a white when the 3rd or the 6th is already black. Just ½ step down to the left.

Congratulations! You can now play 5 major and 5 harmonic minor scales!

Where to go from here?

1. Learn to play the piano scales both hands together. It is a little tricky to change fingers not at the same time, but you will soon learn.

2. Learn to play 2 octaves hands separately. Simply do not play finger 5 unless you will turn or stop.

   Right hand pattern going up (ascending) will look like this:123-1234-123-12345 and down (descending): 54321-321-4321-321.

   Left hand: (reversed): 54321-321-4321-321 and down: 123-1234-123-12345.

3. Learn both hands together 2 octaves.

By now you are more than ready to learn more piano scales where the fingering will change slightly.

Here is a great book with lots of help and advice on how to practice and learn piano scales and chords combined with music theory: Piano Essentials: Scales, Chords, Arpeggios, and Cadences for the Contemporary Pianist (Book & CD)

Related Pages:

• The Music Scale
  
• The Piano-Scale Part 1: The Construction and Patterns of Major, Minor and Modal Scales.
  
• The Piano-Scale Part 2: The Blues, Chromatic, Whole tone and 12 tone Scale.
  

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