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C major scale

The eight notes, fingering for both hands and the key signature.

The short answer

The notes of the C major scale are C, D, E, F, G, A and B, and then C again at the top.

On the keys

Keyboard with the C major scale marked: C, D, E, F, G, A and BCDEFGABC

Yellow is the starting note, and the same note again an octave up.

On the staff

Treble and bass staves showing the C major scale, one octave: C, D, E, F, G, A and BCDEFGABC

One octave of C major, with the key signature at the start of each staff. C major has no sharps or flats in its key signature. The right hand reads the treble clef; the left plays the same notes an octave lower, on the bass clef.

Fingering

One octave going up. The thumb is 1 and the little finger is 5. Coming down, play the same fingers in reverse order.

HandCDEFGABC
Right12312345
Left54321321

Key signature

C major has no sharps or flats in its key signature.

Keep going

I chord: C major

C, E and G.

IV chord: F major

F, A and C.

V chord: G major

G, B and D.

A minor scale

The relative minor: the same seven notes and the same key signature, starting on A.

C minor scale

Same starting note, a different mood: the third, sixth and seventh notes drop a semitone.

Questions

How many sharps or flats does the C major scale have?

C major has no sharps or flats in its key signature.

What is the fingering for the C major scale?

For one octave going up, the right hand uses 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 and the left hand uses 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1.

Practise C major and the other scales in PlayPiano, a piano practice app for iPhone and iPad.

Play it in the app