Passion For Fashion

A scale consists of eight tones that are spread equally between one key and the key that is exactly one octave above it.  Scales can be in many different types.  They are all considered to be either major or minor scales.  The happier scales are considered to be the major scales.  The dark or deep sounding scales are known as the minor scales.

You will develop memory in the muscles of your hands as you spend time playing scales during your practice.  You will find it much easier to get your fingers to move to the particular notes in the scale that you are working on after you have spent some time practicing them.  As you glance over a sheet of music or hear a melody in the air your fingers will be naturally gravitating to the correct keys.

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.

If you have ever spent any time in a lounge or piano bar and hear a singer take the stage and address the pianist with “let’s go with the key of D”, then you might have been confused by his or her statement.  What they are telling the pianist is that they would like to start with chords that start with the D key.  They then know exactly where they need to begin to play their music.  If a chord in a wrong key is played it can drastically affect the overall sound of the song.

As you begin to learn the scales, you can learn them without all of the key signatures.  (This is the notation of the keys that are written and could be the key of G or the key of C).  Playing the C scale is a great place to start.  Using only the white keys you can play the major C scale.  Simply place your right hand on the keys in the home position.  Keep the numbering of your fingers in mind and that your thumbs will always the number one.

Begin playing following the 1-2-3 pattern.  Once you have completed this pattern you have keyed the notes C, D, and E on the piano.  When you get to your ring finger in the count, place your thumb on the F key by sliding it under the other fingers.  Once your thumb is there, reposition your other fingers in order and begin the sequence again.  You will be playing 1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5, or C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C.  You have done it.  Your first scale has been played.  Be sure to take some time to practice what you have learned.

To play a C scale with your left hand, put your little finger on the C below middle C. Position your fingers from 1-5 coming up the keyboard from each key to the next. Play 5-4-3-2-1. Then, reach over the top with your middle finger and place it on the next key. Play 3-2-1 from this position. Therefore, you are playing 5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1, or C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C.

After you practice this for awhile, try to put the left hand and the right hand together. Play the C below middle C with your left pinkie at the same time as you play the middle C with your left thumb. Continue up the scale with both hands. It can be a little tricky at first because you are going over with your middle finger of your left hand and the under with the thumb of the right hand at different times. Practice awhile and it will come naturally.

After you have mastered this scale you will find that it is much easier to grasp the other major scales.  Be sure to concentrate on the order of the half steps and the whole steps that occur in a major scale.  If you are following the right order up the major scale you will be playing like this:  starting note-step-step-half step-step-step-step-half step.  Keep in mind as you follow these steps that there are no black keys found in between the B and C and the E and F so they are considered to be half steps.

Your scale can be played from any point on the keyboard.  You only need to select a starting point and you are ready to begin.  You can begin on a black key or a white key, it doesn’t matter as long as you are following the steps that were described above and are playing a scale that consists of eight notes.  You may even want to begin the scale with the key on the furthest left and play the scale until you reach the last key on the piano.  All you need is some practice and you will find that your fingers are flying down the keyboard playing major scales.