Major scales are used to create most of the popular songs you hear today as well as in classical music. In this lesson, we will be showing you how to play major scale in all the 12 keys. You will also learn how to contruct major scales by using the formula of whole steps and half steps.
Major scale is made up of whole steps (WS) and half steps (HS).
WS - distance between any two keys with one (either black or white) key in between
HS - distance between any two keys with no (either black or white) key in between
The pattern for all of the major scales is: (Root) - WS - WS - HS - WS - WS - WS - HS
Watch tutorial video of “Whole Steps Half Steps | Intervals”
The Keyboardist’s Picture Chord Encyclopedia (Piano Book)
Learn how to play these Major Scales in all 12 Keys -
Click on any keys below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
There are 12 different keys on the piano keyboard, so there are 12 possible major scales. You can use this pattern of whole steps and half steps to find the major scale on all 12 keys.
Let’s first look at a major scale that starts on C, which is called C major scale. The C major scale is the easiest major scale to play since it is made up of only white keys:
========================================================
Learn to play C Major Scale
C Major: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C
========================================================
In C Major scale:
the whole steps are located between C/D, D/E, F/G, G/A, and A/B;
and the half steps are located between E/F, and B/C.
By applying this formula: Root, WS, WS, HS, WS, WS, WS, HS -
C Major Scale is: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C
Click the video below showing you how to play C Major scale.
Play C major scale using interactive Z-Board piano below if you don’t already own a piano keyboard:
|
C (Root) D (C to D = WS) E (D to E = WS) F (E to F = HS) G (F to G = WS) A (G to A = WS) B (A to B = WS) C (B to C = HS) |
1 - Thumb 2 - Index Finger 3 - Middle Finger 4 - Ring Finger 5 - Pinky |
|
Left hand fingering: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 3, 2, 1 |
Right hand fingering: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
Yamaha YPT-230 Premium Keyboard Pack with Headphones, Power Supply, and Stand
|
Instant Scale and Chord Guide for Keyboards
The Keyboardist’s Picture Chord Encyclopedia (Piano Book)
Free Online Reference - Use Piano Chord Chart to FIND any piano Chords and Scales.
========================================================
Learn to play G Major Scale
G Major: G, A, B, C, D, E, F♯, G
========================================================
In G Major scale:
the whole steps are located between G/A, A/B, C/D, D/E, and E/F♯;
and the half steps are located between B/C, and F♯/G.
Apply this pattern of whole steps and half steps to find G major scale:
Root, WS, WS, HS, WS, WS, WS, HS
Playing G Major: G,A,B,C,D,E,F♯,G
|
G , (Root) A , (G to A = WS) B , (A to B = WS) C , (B to C = HS) D , (C to D = WS) E , (D to E = WS) F♯, (E to F♯ = WS) G , (F♯ to G = HS) |
1 - Thumb 2 - Index Finger 3 - Middle Finger 4 - Ring Finger 5 - Pinky |
|
Left hand fingering: G, A, B, C, D, E, F♯, G 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 3, 2, 1 |
Right hand fingering: G, A, B, C, D, E, F♯, G 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
Yamaha YPG-235 76-Key Portable Grand Piano Premium Pack
|
Practice G Major scale on virtual keyboard below now:
Instant Scale and Chord Guide for Keyboards
========================================================
Learn to play D Major Scale
D Major: D, E, F♯, G, A, B, C♯, D
========================================================
The whole steps are located between D/E, E/F♯, G/A, A/B and B/C♯,
and the half steps are located between F♯/G, and C♯/D.
You can use this pattern of whole steps and half steps to find the major scale on all 12 keys:
Root, WS, WS, HS, WS, WS, WS, HS
Playing D Major: D,E,F♯,G,A,B,C♯,D
D , (Root)
E , (D to E = WS)
F♯ , (E to F♯ = WS)
G , (F♯ to G = HS)
A , (G to A = WS)
B, (A to B = WS)
C♯ , (B to C♯ = WS)
D, (C♯ to D = HS)1 = Thumb
2 = Index Finger
3 = Middle Finger
4 = Ring Finger
5 = PinkyRight hand fingering:
D, E, F♯, G, A, B, C♯, D
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5Left hand fingering:
D, E, F♯, G, A, B, C♯, D
5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 3, 2, ,1
============================================================
Learn to play A Major Scale
A Major: A, B, C♯, D, E, F♯, G♯, A
============================================================
The whole steps are located between A/B, B/C♯, D/E, E/F♯, and F♯/G♯.
The half steps are located between C♯/D, and G♯/A.
You can use this pattern of whole steps and half steps to find the major scale on all 12 keys:
Root, WS, WS, HS, WS, WS, WS, HS
Playing A Major: A,B,C♯,D,E,F♯,G♯,A
A , (Root)
B , (A to B = WS)
C♯ , (B to C♯ = WS)
D , (C♯ to D = HS)
E , (D to E = WS)
F♯, (E to F♯ = WS)
G♯ , (F♯ to G♯ = WS)
A, (G♯ to A = HS)You’ll learn how to play A Major with the right hand and left hand separately. Next, you’ll practice to play A Major scale with both hands together. Watch demo on Synthesia.
1 = Thumb
2 = Index Finger
3 = Middle Finger
4 = Ring Finger
5 = PinkyRight hand fingering:
A,B,C♯,D,E,F♯,G♯,A
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5Left hand fingering:
A,B,C♯,D,E,F♯,G♯,A
5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 3, 2, 1
Yamaha YPT-230 Premium Keyboard Pack with Headphones, Power Supply, and Stand
============================================================
Learn to play E Major Scale
E Major: E, F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯, D♯, E
============================================================
The whole steps are located between E/F♯, F♯/G♯, A/B, B/C♯, and C♯/D♯.
The half steps are located between G♯/A, and D♯/E.
You can use this pattern of whole steps and half steps to find the major scale on all 12 keys:
Root, WS, WS, HS, WS, WS, WS, HS
Playing E Major Scale: E,F♯,G♯,A,B,C♯,D♯,E
E , (Root)
F♯ , (E to F♯ = WS)
G♯ , (F♯ to G♯ = WS)
A, (G♯ to A = HS)
B , (A to B = WS)
C♯, (B to C♯ = WS)
D♯ , (C♯ to D♯ = WS)
E, (D♯ to E = HS)You’ll learn how to play E Major with the right hand and left hand separately. Next, you’ll practice to play E Major scale with both hands together. Watch demo on Synthesia.
1 = Thumb
2 = Index Finger
3 = Middle Finger
4 = Ring Finger
5 = PinkyRight hand fingering:
E,F♯,G♯,A,B,C♯,D♯,E
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5Left hand fingering:
E,F♯,G♯,A,B,C♯,D♯,E
5, 4, 3, ,2,1,3, 2,1
Yamaha EZ-200 61 Full-Sized Touch Sensitive Lighted Keyboard Bundle
Practice E Major scale on virtual keyboard below now:
Watch tutorial video - Fingers Exercise
============================================================
Learn to play B Major Scale
B Major: B, C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯, A♯, B
============================================================
The whole steps are located between B/C♯, C♯/D♯, E/F♯, F♯/G♯, and G♯/A♯.
The half steps are located between D♯/E, and A♯/B.
You can use this pattern of whole steps and half steps to find the major scale on all 12 keys:
Root, WS, WS, HS, WS, WS, WS, HS
Playing B Major: B,C♯,D♯,E, F♯, G♯, A♯, B
B , (Root)
C♯ , (B to C♯ = WS)
D♯ , (C♯ to D♯ = WS)
E, (D♯ to E = HS)
F♯ , (E to F♯ = WS)
G♯, (F♯ to G♯ = WS)
A♯ , (G♯ to A♯ = WS)
B, (A♯ to B = HS)You’ll learn how to play B Major with the right hand and left hand separately. Next, you’ll practice to play B Major scale with both hands together. Watch demo on Synthesia.
1 = Thumb
2 = Index Finger
3 = Middle Finger
4 = Ring Finger
5 = PinkyRight hand fingering:
B,C♯,D♯,E,F♯,G♯,A♯, B
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5Left hand fingering:
B,C♯,D♯,E,F♯,G♯,A♯, B
4, 3, ,2, 1, 4, 3, 2,1
Scales, Chords, Arpeggios and Cadences: First Book (Alfred’s Basic Piano Library)
============================================================
Learn to play F♯ | Gb Major Scale
F♯ or Gb Major: F♯, G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯, F, F♯
============================================================
The whole steps are located between F♯/G♯, G♯/A♯, B/C♯, C♯/D♯, and D♯/F.
The half steps are located between A♯/B, and F/F♯.
You can use this pattern of whole steps and half steps to find the major scale on all 12 keys:
Root, WS, WS, HS, WS, WS, WS, HS
Playing F♯ | Gb Major: F♯, G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯, F, F♯
F♯ , (Root)
G♯ , (F♯ to G♯ = WS)
A♯ , (G♯ to A♯ = WS)
B , (A♯ to B = HS)
C♯ , (B to C♯ = WS)
D♯ , (C♯ to D♯ = WS)
F, (D♯ to F = WS)
F♯ , (F to F♯ = HS)You’ll learn how to play F♯ | Gb Major with the right hand and left hand separately. Next, you’ll practice to play F♯ or Gb Major scale with both hands together. Watch demo on Synthesia.
1 = Thumb
2 = Index Finger
3 = Middle Finger
4 = Ring Finger
5 = PinkyRight hand fingering:
F♯,G♯,A♯,B,C♯,D♯,E♯,F♯
2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2Left hand fingering:
F♯,G♯,A♯,B,C♯,D♯,E♯,F♯
4, 3, 2, 1, 3, 2, 1, 4
Scales, Chords, Arpeggios and Cadences: Basic Book
============================================================
Learn to play F Major Scale
F Major: F, G, A, B♭, C, D, E, F
============================================================
The whole steps are located between F/G, G/A, Bb/C, C/D, and D/E.
The half steps are located between A/Bb, and E/F.
You can use this pattern of whole steps and half steps to find the major scale on all 12 keys:
Root, WS, WS, HS, WS, WS, WS, HS
Playing F Major scale: F Major: F, G, A, B♭, C, D, E, F
F , (Root)
G , (F to G = WS)
A , (G to A = WS)
B♭, (A to B♭ = HS)
C , (B♭ to C = WS)
D, (C to D = WS)
E , (D to E = WS)
F, (E to F = HS)You’ll learn how to play F Major with the right hand and left hand separately. Next, you’ll practice to play F Major scale with both hands together. Watch demo on Synthesia.
1 = Thumb
2 = Index Finger
3 = Middle Finger
4 = Ring Finger
5 = PinkyRight hand fingering:
F,G,A,B♭,C,D,E,F
1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4Left hand fingering:
F,G,A,B♭,C,D,E,F
5, 4, 3 ,2,1,3, 2,1
============================================================
Learn to play B♭ | A♯ Major Scale
B♭ Major scale: B♭, C, D, E♭, F, G, A, B♭
============================================================
The whole steps are located between B♭/C, C/D, E♭/F, F/G, and G/A.
The half steps are located between D/E♭, and A/B♭.
You can use this pattern of whole steps and half steps to find the major scale on all 12 keys:
Root, WS, WS, HS, WS, WS, WS, HS
Playing B♭ Major: B♭, C, D, E♭, F, G, A, B♭
B♭ , (Root)
C , (B♭ to C = WS)
D , (C to D = WS)
E♭ , (D to E♭ = HS)
F, (E♭ to F = WS)
G, (F to G = WS)
A , (G to A = WS)
B♭, (A to B♭ = HS)You’ll learn how to play B♭ Major with the right hand and left hand separately. Next, you’ll practice to play B♭ Major scale with both hands together. Watch demo on Synthesia.
1 = Thumb
2 = Index Finger
3 = Middle Finger
4 = Ring Finger
5 = PinkyRight hand fingering:
B♭, C, D, E♭, F, G, A, B♭
4. 1. 2. 3. 1. 2. 3. 4Left hand fingering:
B♭, C, D, E♭, F, G, A, B♭
3, 2, 1, 4, 3, 2, 1, 3
Music Theory For Dummies, with Audio CD-ROM
============================================================
Learn to play E♭ | D♯ Major Scale
E♭ Major: E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D, E♭
============================================================
The whole steps are located between E♭/F, F/G, A♭/B♭, B♭/C, and C/D.
The half steps are located between G/A♭, and D/E♭.
You can use this pattern of whole steps and half steps to find the major scale on all 12 keys:
Root, WS, WS, HS, WS, WS, WS, HS
Playing Eb Major: E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D, E♭
E♭ , (Root)
F , (E♭to F= WS)
G , (F to G = WS)
A♭ , (G to A♭ = HS)
B♭, (A♭ to B♭ = WS)
C, (B♭ to C = WS)
D , (C to D = WS)
E♭, (D to E♭ = HS)You’ll learn how to play E♭ Major with the right hand and left hand separately. Next, you will practice playing E♭ Major scale with both hands together. Watch demo on Synthesia.
1 = Thumb
2 = Index Finger
3 = Middle Finger
4 = Ring Finger
5 = PinkyRight hand fingering:
E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D, E♭
3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3Left hand fingering:
E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D, E♭
3, 2, 1, 4, 3, 2, 1, 3
============================================================
Learn to play A♭ | G♯ Major Scale
A♭ Major scale: A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G, A♭
============================================================
The whole steps are located between A♭/B♭, B♭/C, D♭/E♭, E♭/F, and F/G.
The half steps are located between C/D♭, and G/A♭.
You can use this pattern of whole steps and half steps to find the major scale on all 12 keys:
Root, WS, WS, HS, WS, WS, WS, HS
Playing A♭ Major: A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G, A♭
A♭ , (Root)
B♭ , (A♭ to B♭ = WS)
C , (B♭ to C = WS)
D♭ , (C to D♭ = HS)
E♭, (D♭ to E♭ = WS)
F, (E♭ to F = WS)
G , (F to G = WS)
A♭, (G to A♭ = HS)You’ll learn how to play A♭Major scale with the right hand and left hand separately. Next, you’ll practice to play A♭Major scale with both hands together. Watch demo on Synthesia.
1 = Thumb
2 = Index Finger
3 = Middle Finger
4 = Ring Finger
5 = PinkyRight hand fingering:
A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G, A♭
3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3Left hand fingering:
A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G, A♭
3, 2, 1, 4, 3, 2, 1, 3
Piano and Keyboard Chords: Easy to Use, Easy to Carry, One Chord on Every Page
============================================================
Learn to play D♭ or C♯ Major Scale
D♭ / C♯ Major scale: D♭, E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B♭, C, D♭
============================================================
The whole steps are located between D♭/E♭, E♭/F, G♭/A♭, A♭/B♭, and B♭/C.
The half steps are located between F/G♭, and C/D♭.
You can use this pattern of whole steps (WS) and half steps (HS) to find the major scale on all 12 keys:
Root, WS, WS, HS, WS, WS, WS, HS
Playing Db Major: D♭, E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B♭, C, D♭
D♭ , (Root)
E♭ , (D♭ to E♭ = WS)
F , (E♭ to F = WS)
G♭ , (F to G♭ = HS)
A♭, (G♭ to A♭ = WS)
B♭, (A♭ to B♭ = WS)
C , (B♭ to C = WS)
D♭, (C to D♭ = HS)You’ll learn how to play D♭ Major scale with the right hand and left hand separately. Next, you’ll practice to play D♭ Major scale with both hands together. Watch demo on Synthesia.
1 = Thumb
2 = Index Finger
3 = Middle Finger
4 = Ring Finger
5 = PinkyRight hand fingering:
D♭, E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B♭, C, D♭
2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2Left hand fingering:
D♭, E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B♭, C, D♭
3, 2, 1, 4, 3, 2, 1, 3
Practice playing the above major scales on your piano, or
use interactive virtual piano keyboard below.
Click to browse piano keyboards here if you don’t already own one.
Casio WK-200 76-Key Personal Keyboard Package with Stand, Headphones and Power Supply
Let’s learn how to play “Brother John“.
Learn to play “I’m A Little Teapot“.
Learn to play easy piano songs.
Korg SP170s 88-Key Digital Piano, Black
______________________________________________________________
Complete Book of Scales |
Piano Keyboards |
Learn to Play Easy Songs online |
|
Piano Basics Lesson 1 - Layout of Piano Keys Beginner Piano Lesson 6 - Learn How to Play “Brother John” |
