Piano for Beginners 6th ED - 2016 UK

Playing the piano

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

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

J

ust like major scales, the minor scales follow

a cycle, adding either a sharp or a flat with

each new scale. The next minor scale to learn

is D minor which has one flat; B. The relative

major scale to D minor is F major, as it also contains

the same single flat note.

As with A minor, you will learn three formats: the

natural minor, the harmonic minor and the melodic

minor. These contain only a slight change but each

sounds very unique. It is important to understand

the three types of minor scale, as their sequences

will appear in the music you will go on to learn.

The D natural minor scale uses the same notes

found in the F major scale, beginning and ending

on D: D-E-F-G-A-B - C-D. In the D harmonic minor,

the seventh note needs to be raised one semitone.

A semitone refers to the smallest possible distance

between two notes, basically the distance between

two notes directly next to each other. In most cases,

the note directly next to a white key on either side is

a black key. For example, to raise a G one semitone,

you simply go to the black note above of G#. With a

B however, the next key is a white one – C. So for B,

a semitone above is actually C.

D minor scales

D minor follows from A minor, spicing things up

by adding a flat to its key signature

“It is important to understand the three types

of minor scale, as their sequences will appear in

the music you will go on to learn”

01 The right hand

For D natural minor, the fingering pattern used in C major is again employed.

For the right hand, the sequence is: D (1), E ( 2 ), F (3), G (1) (tucked), A ( 2 ), B (3), C

(4), D (5). Begin on the D one note above Middle C.

02 Your left hand

Once you have ascended and descended a few times with your right hand, try

the left hand beginning two octaves lower. The notes are the same as for Step 1 ,

and the fingering pattern is again the same as C major.

D natural minor

Audio file

Listen to the audio files

and follow along on your

own keyboard

Give it a try