Piano for Beginners 6th ED - 2016 UK

E

very one of the 12 major scales has its own

unique set of sharps or flats. The collection

of sharps or flats found in a scale is known

as the key signature, which in written music

is situated right next to the clef at the beginning

of each line of music. So far you have learnt to play

three different major scales: C major (no sharps or

flats), F major (one flat) and G major (one sharp). F

major, containing one flat, is followed by a scale

containing two flats. Likewise, the scale that follows

G major has two sharps. This scale is D major.

You may begin to notice a pattern emerging

here concerning the scales that contain sharps.

First you learned C major, the scale without sharps

(or flats). Then came G major containing one sharp

(F#). Next you will learn the scale with two sharps,

D major. The pattern surfacing is that there are

exactly five notes between each of the scales. Start

with C (no sharps or flats), count up five notes (C-D-

E-F-G) and you arrive at G (one sharp = F#). Count

up another five notes (G-A-B-C-D) and you arrive at

D (two sharps = F# and C#). This pattern continues,

adding a sharp each time and is what is known as

the circle (or cycle) of fifths – see page 60 for more

information on it.

The F# in the D major scale replaces the F, with

the C# played instead of C. Just remember to locate

the sharps on the piano before you begin to play

the scale.

The D major scale

Discover the scale with two sharps and begin to understand

the pattern of the major scales

“Remember to locate the sharps on the piano

before you begin to play the scale”

01 The right hand

Begin with your thumb on the D just above middle C. Play the following notes

to ascend up the scale: D (1), E ( 2 ), F# (3), G (1) (tucked), A ( 2 ), B (3), C# (4) and D (5).

You’ll notice the pattern is identical to C major. Descend in the reverse order.

02 The left hand

Starting on the D key two octaves below the one used for right hand, play the

following notes: D (5), E (4), F# (3), G ( 2 ), A (1), B (3), C# ( 2 ) and D (1). Again, the

pattern is the same as that of C major. Descend in reverse.

5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5

1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1

Audio file

Listen to the audio files

and follow along on your

own keyboard

Give it a try