Estimated reading time 2 minutes
Table of Contents
Piano Major Scales (Basic Fingering Concepts) #1: One Central Concept
Do you want to understand piano scale fingering concepts better? At their core, all piano scales are based upon a central concept that helps simplify the fingering. Keep reading for piano major scales – basic fingering concepts.
Piano Major Scales (Basic Fingering Concepts) #2: How Does the Fingering Work?
Mobile users: for best results reading the examples, tilt your screen 90o to the right.
I, like every piano instructor, teach the major scales:
- However, piano fingering is much more hand position based (see the C position diagram above for an example) than scale based.
- Which means that I focus on hand positions in lessons rather than the piano major scales.
- With trumpet, guitar, singing, and every other instrument I’ve studied, you learn a scale and then you actually use it.
- On piano, you use the full major scales… occasionally.
- So, if you’re a music teacher, by all means teach the major scales. However, I suggest you don’t worry over it too much.
Think about it. What is a C major scale piano fingering for the right hand (RH) except part of the C position fingering and all of the F position fingering with a finger crossover connecting them?
- The keyboard diagram below shows how the C major scale looks on piano.
- The sheet music example below the keyboard diagram shows the piano scale’s fingering as it relates to the hand positions.
- The sharp key major scales on the piano mostly follow this fingering pattern for the right hand.
- Regardless, all piano scales are hand position based except for the chromatic scale.
- Once you know what the hand positions are for each key, it’ll help simplify memorizing them.
The C Major Scale for Piano:
Piano Major Scales (Basic Fingering Concepts) #3: Final Thoughts
Here’s a Summary of Piano Major Scales (Basic Fingering Concepts):
- While the full scales do get used in compositions, it isn’t too often.
- Conversely, the five-finger hand positions are the heart and soul of piano technique.
- This explains why young students start with the five-finger positions so that playing them will become second nature.
Have fun playing!
Related Posts
- The C Major Key (Including the C Major Chords)
- The G Major Key (Including the G Major Chords)
- D’you Want Some Music Tips and Tricks I’ve Learned Over the Years?
© 2024 Geoffrey Keith
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