A scale goes from one key to the key that is an octave above that key. It consists of eight tones. There are different types of scales. Some of them are major scales and some of them are minor scales. Major scales have been described as sounding happy, while minor scales are said to sound sad or gloomy.

Practicing keying scales is very important as the muscles in your hand must form a memory of where the keys are in relation to each other.  As you spend some time practicing your scales you will find that your fingers seem to move on their own as they have developed a pattern and are following suit.  As your eyes move across the sheet music or as you play back a favorite song or tune in your head, you will find that your fingers are moving right along, almost without any thought on your part at all.

Any time you talk about scales you will also find yourself discussing keys.  The piano has two different types of keys on it.  The word “keys” as it pertains to the piano could mean the physical ivory or wood keys on the keyboard or the keys that a song or scale is played in.

Have you ever been to a lounge where a singer is giving an impromptu performance? She might lean down to the pianist and say something like, “In the key of C.” That tells the pianist where on the keyboard to begin. It also tells the pianist what physical keys to start with and what chords to use. The key of a piece of music is very important.

When you are learning scales, you can do it without learning all the key signatures. (Key signatures are the written notation of the keys, such as the key of C or the key of G.) You can begin by playing a C scale. A major C scale is all done on the white keys. Begin with your right hand in the Home Keys position. Remember that your fingers are numbered 1-5, with the thumb being 1.

Play 1-2-3 as usual. This is C-D-E on the keyboard. Then, instead of playing the next note with your ring finger, slip your thumb under the fingers and play F with your thumb. Reposition your hand so that your thumb is 1 on F and your pinkie is 5 on the C above middle C. Then, continue to play up the scale. So, you are playing 1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5, or C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C. You have just played your first scale. Practice it a few times.

After you are comfortable with the C scale on your right hand, move on to mastering it with your left hand.  Rest your pinkie finger on the C key that is below middle C.  Your fingers should be mentally numbered from one to five beginning with the pinkie finger.  Play the keys as 5-4-3-2-1.  After you have completed this step, use your middle finger to reach across the other fingers and put it on the next available key.  Play 3-2-1 beginning at this location on the keyboard.  When you put it all together you are playing 5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1, otherwise known as C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C.

Combining the functions of both hands at the same time is the next step once you have spent some time practicing with each individual hand.  You will be playing the C below middle C using your pinkie on your left hand just as you are using your right hand thumb to play the middle C.  Travel up the scale using both hands.  The task may seem a little challenging until you have gotten over having to maneuver one hand over and the other under to finish the scale.  After you practice you will find that it comes much easier.

Once you get the basic procedure down, it is easy to play other major scales. The only thing you have to remember is the sequence of steps and half steps in a major scale. The correct order up a major scale is: beginning note-step-step-half step-step-step-step-half step. You should be aware that, since there are no black keys between them, the intervals from B-C and from E-F are each half steps.

You can play a scale anywhere on the piano. Just pick a note to start on. It does not matter whether it is a white key or a black key. Use the given sequence of steps and half steps to go from there up an eight note scale. You can even start from the left of the keyboard and continue the scale all the way to the right. With a little practice, you will be proficient at playing major scales.