How to Play a C Major Scale on the Piano
The C major scale consists of all white keys and follows the whole and half step major scale pattern of whole-whole-half-whole-whole-whole-half. The notes in the C major scale are C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C. To play the C major scale, you must learn the correct fingering which is different for your right and left hands. Read on to learn how to play a C major scale on the piano.
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Instructions
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Right Hand
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1
Number the fingers on your right hand 1 through 5 starting with your thumb.
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2
Place your right thumb on one of the C keys on your keyboard.
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3
Press D with your second finger (index finger) and E with your third finger (middle finger).
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4
Bring your thumb under your first and second finger and press F with your thumb, G with your second finger, A with your third finger, B with your fourth finger (ring finger) and C with your fifth finger (little finger).
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5
Start the descent of your scale by pressing B with your fourth finger, A with your third finger, G with your second finger and F with your thumb.
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6
Cross your third finger over your thumb and press E with your third finger, D with your second finger and C with your thumb.
Left Hand
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7
Number the fingers on your left hand 1 through 5 starting with your thumb.
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8
Place your fifth finger (little finger) on a C key on your keyboard.
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9
Press D with your fourth finger (ring finger), E with your third finger (middle finger), F with your second finger (index finger) and G with your thumb.
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10
Cross your third finger over and press A with your third finger, B with your second finger and C with your thumb.
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11
Begin the descent of your scale by pressing B with your second finger and A with your third finger.
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Bring your thumb under your third finger and play G with your thumb, F with your second finger, E with your third finger, D with your fourth finger and C with your fifth finger.
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Tips & Warnings
If you number the fingers on each hand 1 to 5, starting with your thumb, you can easily view the correct fingering for the C major scale. Right hand: 1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1. Left hand: 5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5.
A half step is made when you play two keys directly next to each other, including black keys. A whole step is made up of two half steps.
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Comments
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If you are playing more than a one octave scale then you simply repeat up the scale by putting your thumb under your fourth finger (for the right hand) or fourth finger over your thumb (for the left hand).
