A major scale
How to read a scale
Steps, degrees, fingers.
The step pattern
Every scale is a pattern of whole and half steps. A major goes W–W–H–W–W–W–H.
The degrees
Number the notes from the root: 1 A, 2 B, 3 C♯, 4 D, 5 E, 6 F♯, 7 G♯. The degrees stay the same in every key, so a pattern learned in A works in any other.
The fingering
Right hand: the thumb tucks under onto D. Left hand: finger 3 crosses over onto F♯. Practise the crossings slowly; once they're smooth, raise the tempo.
All 216 scales
Every scale and mode on every root, each with its own page.
C
D♭
D
E♭
E
F
G♭
G
A♭
A
B♭
Practise it on a real keyboard.
Plug in a MIDI keyboard: the Melodio app shows every scale with its fingering and chords, and names what you play. Free, offline.
Download Melodio
Windows · macOS · Linux