The Major Scale

Every Major scale is comprised from the basic pattern:

whole-whole-half-whole-whole-whole-whole-half

You could also think of that as:

2-2-1-2-2-2-2-1

Either way, it describes the number of steps to take (upwards) from the current note. This is easiest to understand in the most basic of all, the C Major Scale.

What follows are all major scales on piano (including linked PDFs).

The most commonly used key signatures on the piano are:

• C Major
• G Major
• F Major
• D Major
• Bb Major
• Eb Major
• A Major

However, it is easier to learn the scales by fingering pattern groups. There are 5 major scales that are played in the same way, making them easier to learn together:

• C Major Scale on Piano
• A Major Scale on Piano
• G Major Scale on Piano
• E Major Scale on Piano
• D Major Scale on Piano

These two share the same right hand fingering:

• B Major Scale
• C Flat Major Scale

These two then use the left hand pattern you just learned:

• G Flat Major Scale on Piano
• F Sharp Major Scale on Piano

And these repeat the new right hand pattern, just learned:

• D Flat Major Scale on Piano
• C Sharp Major Scale on Piano

The final 3 major scales are all slightly unique fingering variations:

• F Major Scale on Piano
• A Flat Major Scale on Piano
• E Flat Major Scale on Piano
• B Flat Major Scale on Piano