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.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Keyboard

Right Hand

1. Number the fingers on your right hand 1 through 5 starting with your thumb.
2. Place your right thumb on one of the C keys on your keyboard.
3. Press D with your second finger (index finger) and E with your third finger (middle finger).
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).
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.
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

7. Number the fingers on your left hand 1 through 5 starting with your thumb.
8. Place your fifth finger (little finger) on a C key on your keyboard.
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.
10. Cross your third finger over and press A with your third finger, B with your second finger and C with your thumb.
11. Begin the descent of your scale by pressing B with your second finger and A with your third finger.
12. 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.

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.