- Explain how scales and black-key note names are organized.
- Recall the demonstrated fingering relationships for major scales.
- Identify the notes and sharps in G, D, A, E, and B major.
- Connect major-scale degrees with chord qualities.
- Choose a repetition goal that matches the learner's pace.
Scale Foundations and Note Names
Scales can be grouped into scales containing sharps and scales containing flats. A black key can be named as either a sharp or a flat.
A sharp lies to the right of its named natural note, while a flat lies to the left. The scale being played determines which of the black key's two names is used.
The circle of fifths provides a system for organizing the set of scales.
Relative to a named natural note, where are its sharp and flat located on the keyboard?
The sharp is to the right of the natural note, and the flat is to its left.
Fingering and Hand Coordination
The first C-major fingering demonstration uses the first three fingers before the thumb passes under.
The demonstrated left-hand C-major scale starts with the fifth finger and crosses the third finger over.
The hands mirror one another, so the left-hand fingering is reversed relative to the right-hand fingering. The ascending right-hand pattern of three fingers and then the thumb matches the descending left-hand pattern.
Which descending hand matches the first-three-fingers-then-thumb pattern of an ascending right hand?
The descending left hand.
G Major and D Major Scales
G major is the neighbor of C major in the circle of fifths and is five notes above C major in the presented progression.
G major starts on G. G major and C major differ by one note and have very similar sound properties.
G major contains F-sharp, which is the second-to-last note of its ascending scale.
D major contains F-sharp and C-sharp.
Which two sharps are contained in D major?
F-sharp and C-sharp.
A Major and E Major Scales
A major has three sharps: C-sharp, F-sharp, and G-sharp. G-sharp is the new sharp added after retaining the sharps from neighboring scales.
Every one of the seven chords of A major contains at least one sharp.
E major ascends as E–F-sharp–G-sharp–A–B–C-sharp–D-sharp–E.
Reconstruct the ascending E-major scale and name its sharp notes.
E–F-sharp–G-sharp–A–B–C-sharp–D-sharp–E; the sharps are F-sharp, G-sharp, C-sharp, and D-sharp.
B Major and Keyboard Ergonomics
B major ascends as B–C-sharp–D-sharp–E–F-sharp–G-sharp–A-sharp–B. B and E are its only two white-key notes.
The improved ascending left-hand fingering starts with the fourth finger and follows 4–3–2–1–4–3–2–1. This keeps the thumb on white keys.
The demonstrated right-hand B-major scale uses standard fingering: thumb, fingers two and three, then thumb under.
Which fingering begins an ascending left-hand B-major scale, and where does it keep the thumb?
It begins with the fourth finger, follows 4–3–2–1–4–3–2–1, and keeps the thumb on white keys.
Major-Scale Chord Patterns
In major-scale harmonization, chords I, IV, and V are major, while chords II, III, and VI are minor.
In the recaps of C major, G major, and D major, chord VII is diminished.
| Degree | Chord |
|---|---|
| I | D major |
| II | E minor |
| III | F-sharp minor |
| IV | G major |
| V | A major |
| VI | B minor |
| VII | C-sharp diminished |
What are chords III and VII in D major?
Chord III is F-sharp minor, and chord VII is C-sharp diminished.
Practice and Muscle Memory
The instructor advises complete beginners to follow the demonstrated procedure and add substantial repetition.
For learners who do not yet understand the full-chord scale exercises, practicing scales as single notes can help muscle memory begin to memorize them.
Broken chords are presented as a useful way to practice.
Daily repetition of the scale exercises is described as crucial to understanding how the piano works.
The instructor recommends focusing on two or three scales per day, or one or two scales per day when that is more appropriate for the learner's pace.
What daily scale goal does the instructor recommend, and what smaller goal may suit a learner's pace?
The recommendation is two or three scales per day; one or two scales per day may be more appropriate for the learner's pace.
Common misconceptions
Watch out: The altered note in G major should be named G-flat.
Instead: It is named F-sharp rather than G-flat so the scale does not contain both G-flat and G-natural.
Watch out: The ascending left-hand B-major scale uses the standard fifth-finger start.
Instead: It is an exception: the improved fingering starts with the fourth finger. A standard fifth-finger start would place the thumb uncomfortably on F-sharp.
Watch out: Single-note scale practice cannot help a learner who does not yet understand the full-chord scale exercises.
Instead: For such learners, practicing scales as single notes can help muscle memory begin to memorize them.
Lesson recap
Scales are families of notes that fit together, and the circle of fifths provides a system for organizing scales.
G major contains F-sharp, while D major contains F-sharp and C-sharp.
A major has three sharps, and the sharps named for E major are F-sharp, G-sharp, C-sharp, and D-sharp.
The ascending left-hand B-major fingering follows 4–3–2–1–4–3–2–1 and keeps the thumb on white keys.
In major-scale harmonization, I, IV, and V are major, while II, III, and VI are minor.
Developing muscle memory requires repetition, and the instructor recommends repeating an exercise three or four times.