Trenodo

Piano Scales

Scales are the warm-up every pianist comes back to. They train your fingers, your ears and your sense of key. Every diagram shows the right-hand fingering: the number on each key is the finger that plays it. 🎹

How a major scale is built

Every major scale follows the same pattern of whole steps (W, two keys along) and half steps (H, the very next key). Start on any key, follow the pattern, and you land on the major scale of that key.

  1. W
  2. W
  3. H
  4. W
  5. W
  6. W
  7. H

Fingers count from the thumb: 1 is the thumb, 5 is the little finger. Most scales that start on a white key use 1 2 3, thumb under, 1 2 3 4 5.

All 12 major scales

In the order of the circle of fifths: each scale adds one sharp, then the flat keys come back round.

C majorC D E F G A B C
G majorG A B C D E F# G
D majorD E F# G A B C# D
A majorA B C# D E F# G# A
E majorE F# G# A B C# D# E
B majorB C# D# E F# G# A# B
F# majorF# G# A# B C# D# E# F#
Db majorDb Eb F Gb Ab Bb C Db
Ab majorAb Bb C Db Eb F G Ab
Eb majorEb F G Ab Bb C D Eb
Bb majorBb C D Eb F G A Bb
F majorF G A Bb C D E F

How a natural minor scale is built

The natural minor uses a different pattern of steps, and that alone makes it sound darker. Every minor scale shares its keys with a major scale: A minor is C major, started from A.

  1. W
  2. H
  3. W
  4. W
  5. H
  6. W
  7. W

Natural minor scales to start with

A minorA B C D E F G A
E minorE F# G A B C D E
D minorD E F G A Bb C D
G minorG A Bb C D Eb F G
C minorC D Eb F G Ab Bb C
1

Hands separately, and slowly

One hand at a time, at a speed where every note is even and every finger lands right. Slow and correct beats fast and messy, every time.

2

Then with a metronome

One note per click, then two. Raise the tempo a little each week. Smooth thumb-unders are the sign you’re ready to go faster.

3

Then hands together

The left hand uses its own fingering, so learn it on its own first. Together, start slower than you think. Five minutes a day does more than an hour once a week.

Frequently asked questions

Which piano scale should I learn first?

C major. It's all white keys, so you can focus on the fingering: 1 2 3, thumb under, 1 2 3 4 5. Then G major and F major, one sharp and one flat.

Why does my thumb go under in the middle of a scale?

A scale has eight notes and your hand has five fingers. Tucking the thumb under after the third note lets your hand move along the keyboard without a jump, so the scale stays smooth and even.

How many piano scales are there?

Twelve major and twelve minor, one of each on every key. The natural minor shares its notes with a major scale: A minor uses the same keys as C major, just starting from A.

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