The C major scale on piano is C D E F G A B C, played on white keys only. The standard fingering is 1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5 for the right hand going up from middle C, with the thumb passing under after E, and 5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1 for the left hand going up from the C below, with finger 3 crossing over after the thumb. Coming down, each hand plays its fingering in reverse. Because it has no black keys, C major is the usual first scale, and the thumb crossing it teaches is the same move you'll use in almost every other scale.
The notes and the pattern
Every major scale follows the same pattern of whole steps (two keys apart, skipping the key between) and half steps (neighboring keys): whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half. Starting on C, the white keys fit it exactly:
| From | To | Step |
|---|---|---|
| C | D | whole |
| D | E | whole |
| E | F | half |
| F | G | whole |
| G | A | whole |
| A | B | whole |
| B | C | half |
The two half steps, E to F and B to C, are the two places where white keys meet with no black key between them. In solfège, the scale is Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Ti Do. The keyboard on this page lights up the right-hand octave, C4 to C5, and on the scales page you can hear C major, or any other major scale, played up and down.
Fingering for each hand
A scale has eight notes and a hand has five fingers, so partway through, the thumb slides under the hand, or a finger crosses over the thumb, to keep the notes connected without a jump.
| Note | C | D | E | F | G | A | B | C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand, C4 to C5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Left hand, C3 to C4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Each note keeps the same finger in both directions, so coming down you read each row from right to left.
Right hand. Going up, play C D E with 1 2 3. While finger 3 is on E, the thumb is already moving under the palm toward F. Keep the wrist level and let the thumb travel; don't twist the wrist or swing the elbow out. Then play G A B C with 2 3 4 5. Coming down, play C B A G F with 5 4 3 2 1, arch finger 3 over the thumb onto E, and finish D and C with 2 and 1.
Left hand. Start with finger 5 on C3, the C below middle C. Going up, play C D E F G with 5 4 3 2 1, cross finger 3 over the thumb onto A, and finish B and C with 2 and 1. Coming down from C4, play C B A with 1 2 3, pass the thumb under onto G, and finish F E D C with 2 3 4 5. The left hand is a mirror of the right: its crossing going up is the same movement as the right hand's crossing coming down.
Two octaves
For two octaves, the pattern keeps going without a stop:
- Right hand, C4 to C6: 1-2-3-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5. The thumb takes C5 instead of finger 5, so it crosses under after E, after B, and after the next E.
- Left hand, C3 to C5: 5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3-2-1. After the thumb plays middle C, finger 4 crosses over it onto D, and the crossings continue as in one octave.
Hands together
Put the hands together only after each hand is comfortable alone. Start with your right thumb on middle C and your left little finger on the C below, and play one octave up and back. The crossings happen at different moments: the right thumb crosses under on the fourth note, F, while the left hand crosses finger 3 over on the sixth note, A. Both third fingers land together twice, on E and on A, which helps you keep your place.
Contrary motion is an easier way in. Put both thumbs on middle C, side by side. The right hand goes up to C5 while the left goes down to C3, and both hands play 1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5, with both thumbs crossing under on the fourth note.
A daily practice routine
About ten minutes is enough:
- Crossing drill, 2 minutes. Right hand: C D E F and back, fingers 1 2 3 1 3 2 1, until the thumb moves smoothly. Left hand: F G A and back, fingers 2 1 3 1 2.
- Hands separately, 3 minutes. One octave up and down with each hand, one note per count.
- Even sound, 2 minutes. The thumb is heavier than the other fingers, so the note after a crossing tends to come out louder. Listen for that bump and play the thumb lightly.
- Hands together, 3 minutes. Contrary motion first, then both hands the same way.
- Two octaves, once one octave feels easy.
Speed up only after the scale sounds even several times in a row. Recording yourself on the full piano and listening back shows whether every note is the same length and loudness.
Next lesson
The notes of this scale are also the building blocks of chords: play every other note, C E G, and you have a C major chord. That's where basic chords begins.
How to play the C major scale with your right hand
- Put your right thumb (finger 1) on middle C, with fingers 2 and 3 over D and E.
- Play C, D and E with fingers 1, 2 and 3.
- Pass your thumb under your hand and play F with it, keeping your wrist level.
- Play G, A, B and C with fingers 2, 3, 4 and 5.
- Come back down with fingers 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 from C to F, cross finger 3 over your thumb to play E, and finish D and C with 2 and 1.
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the C major scale?
C, D, E, F, G, A, B and C again, all white keys. They follow the major scale pattern of whole and half steps: whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half.
What is the right-hand fingering for the C major scale?
Going up, 1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5: the thumb passes under after E to play F. Coming down, 5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1: finger 3 crosses over the thumb after F to play E.
What is the left-hand fingering for the C major scale?
Going up from C, 5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1: after the thumb plays G, finger 3 crosses over it to play A. Coming down, 1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5: the thumb passes under after A to play G.
Why does the C major scale have no sharps or flats?
Starting on C, the white keys fall exactly into the major scale pattern: the two half steps, E to F and B to C, come where the pattern needs them. Every other major scale needs at least one black key to keep that pattern.
Do both thumbs cross at the same time when I play hands together?
No, which is what makes hands together tricky at first. Going up, the right thumb crosses under on the fourth note, F, and the left hand crosses finger 3 over on the sixth note, A.
How fast should I play scales?
Slowly enough that every note is even and every crossing is smooth. Speed up a little only when the scale sounds even several times in a row.