How to Read the C Major Scale for Piano

The C major scale is the most common musical scale. It's easy to play on the piano since you play only the white keys. The scale begins with the C note and ends with the same note one octave (eight notes) higher. Follow these steps to learn to read and play the C major scale in both treble and bass clef.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Understand a Major Scale

1. Look at the keyboard of a piano. There are black keys and white keys. Notice that some of the white keys are separated by a black key. Some of the white keys are adjacent, without a black key between them. This difference is the key to understanding a major scale.

2. Understand the difference between a whole step and a half step, also known as a tone or semi tone. A half step is the distance between two notes which are next to one another in pitch. Not surprisingly, a whole step is the interval made up of two half steps.

3. Distinguish a half step from a whole step on the piano keyboard. On the keyboard, when two white keys are adjacent, with no intervening black key, it's a half step from one white key to the next. However, if there is an intervening black key, it's one half step to the black key and another half step (equaling a whole step) to the next white key.

4. Learn the formula for determining a major scale. In a major scale, there are two whole steps, followed by one half step, then three more whole steps, followed by a final half step. Thus, if you start with C and follow this formula, you'll find that you play only the white keys.

5. Know the notes of the C scale. Starting with C, the notes progress to D, E, F, G, A, B and the next highest C. This is one octave or eight notes. You may also play the notes from a high C to a low C, in the reverse order (C, B, A, G, F, E, D, C).

Play the C Major Scale on the Piano

6. Play the C major Scale on the treble clef with your right hand. Locate a C on the keyboard. You will see black keys organized in groups of twos and threes. The white key to the left of the group of two black keys is C.

7. Assign the fingers of your right hand a number, starting with the thumb as one, the pointer finger as two and so on until you reach the pinky, which is number five. Place your right thumb on C.

8. Play the first three notes of the scale (C D E) with fingers one (the thumb), two and three. To play F, the fourth note, cross your thumb under your hand. Place the thumb on the F. Reposition the other four fingers on next four keys. Play each in turn. Finish the scale with the pinky on the higher C.

9. Perform the C major scale with your left hand in the bass clef. Assign the fingers of your left hand a number. Start with the pinky finger as number five. The thumb ends up as number one.

10. Place the pinky finger on the C note. Play five notes in turn with each finger, starting with C. End with your thumb on G. Cross your third or middle finger over to the key next to your thumb, which is A. Reposition your forefinger (finger 4) and thumb (finger 5) on the last two keys, which are B and C. Finish the scale in this position.