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E major scale

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

The short answer

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

On the keys

Keyboard with the E major scale marked: E, F sharp, G sharp, A, B, C sharp and D sharpEABEF♯G♯C♯D♯

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

On the staff

Treble and bass staves showing the E major scale, one octave: E, F sharp, G sharp, A, B, C sharp and D sharpEF♯G♯ABC♯D♯E

One octave of E major, with the key signature at the start of each staff. E major has four sharps in its key signature: F sharp, C sharp, G sharp and D sharp. The right hand reads the treble clef; the left plays the same notes two octaves 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.

HandEF♯G♯ABC♯D♯E
Right12312345
Left54321321

Key signature

E major has four sharps in its key signature: F sharp, C sharp, G sharp and D sharp.

Keep going

I chord: E major

E, G sharp and B.

IV chord: A major

A, C sharp and E.

V chord: B major

B, D sharp and F sharp.

C sharp minor scale

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

E minor scale

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

Questions

How many sharps does the E major scale have?

E major has four sharps in its key signature: F sharp, C sharp, G sharp and D sharp.

What is the fingering for the E 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 E major and the other scales in PlayPiano, a piano practice app for iPhone and iPad.

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