PIANO MAJOR SCALE ( Formular For The Major Scale) - Lesson 4

 

You're welcome to another section of piano tutorial in Softkeys Academy Piano Lessons. Here, we have arranged piano tutorials to aim you play the piano keys fast. I hope you have been able to digest our previous lessons. 

In this lesson today, we will be looking into the piano major scale and the formula for getting them right. But before I proceed to that, I would like us to look into the topic "Piano Scale" to know what a piano scale actually is.

What is a piano scale?

A piano scale is simply a group of notes played in ascending and descending order, following a specific pattern or formula.

The formula for any type of scale can be broken down into a pattern half steps and whole steps.

And the great thing about these patterns is that they work no matter what note you start on.

For example, all major scales will follow the same formula. So you can start on any note you want, and as long as you follow the major scale formula of half steps and whole steps, you'll be able to work out the correct notes for your scale.

There are two main types of scales of the piano keyboard. The Major and minor scale. There are still other numerous piano scales. We will come across them as we proceed but for the purpose of this lesson, we will only talk about major scale.

                    THE MAJOR SCALE

Let’s learn major piano music scales in all keys. To understand how to form music scales, you need to understand the concept of whole steps and half steps. If you don't know what whole steps and half steps are , make sure to visit previous lessons.

FORMULA FOR THE MAJOR SCALE.

Let’s learn how to form a major scale on piano using a simple formula. 

The formula is  W-W-H-W-W-W-H.

 • “W” stands for a whole step.

 • “H” stands for a half step.

This means that from the first note of the scale to the second note takes a Whole step.

• From the second note to the third note takes a Whole step.

• From the third note to the fourth note takes a half step.

• From the fourth to the fifth takes a whole step.

• From the fifth to the sixth takes a whole step.

• From the sixth to the seventh takes a whole step.

• From the seventh to the root note takes a half step.

There are 8 notes in a scale. You may also remember the scale notes by roman numerals. For instance in the key of C the pitches of scale are C D E F G A B C. In roman numerals it’s I II III IV V VI VII VIII. In solfa notation it's D R M F S L T D

Let's form the scale together. So, to form major piano music scales, you start with the key name (the root note), then move a whole step, another whole step, a half step, followed by a whole step, whole step, whole step, and finally a half step.

C MAJOR SCALE

Let's take the key of C as an example. This will take us through 8 steps to get to the root note.

Step 1. The first note is C.

Step 2. A whole step from C takes us to D.

Step 3. Another whole step takes us to E.

Step 4. One half step takes us to F.

Step 5. One whole step higher is G.

Step 6. Another whole step higher is A.

Step 7. Another whole step take us to B.

Step 8. And finally, a half step higher than B is C.

The C major key signature has no sharps and no flats.

                    C# MAJOR SCALE

1. The first note is C#.

2. A whole step from C# takes us to D#.

3. Another whole step takes us to F.

4. A half step takes us to F#.

5. One whole step higher is G#.

6. Another whole step higher is A#.

7. Another whole step take us to C.

8. And finally, a half step higher than C# is C#.

The C sharp major key signature has 7 sharps.

                          D MAJOR SCALE

The D major scale consists of the pitches D, E, F#, G, A, B, and C#. The D major key signature consists of two sharps.

E flat major scale

The E flat major scale consists of the pitches Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, and D. Its key signature has three flats: Bb, Eb, Ab.

E major scale

The E major scale consists of the pitches E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, and D#. Its key signature has four sharps

F major scale

The F major major scale consists of the pitches F, G, A, Bb, C, D, and E. Its key signature has one flat.

G major scale

The G major scale has the pitches G, A, B, C, D, E, and F#. Its key signature has one sharp, F#.

A flat major scale

The A-flat major scale consists of the pitches Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, and G. Its key signature has four flats.

A major scale

The A major piano music scale consists of the pitches A, B, C#, D, E, F#, and G#. Its key signature has three sharps, C sharp, F sharp, and G sharp.

B Flat Major Scale

The B flat major scale consists of the pitches Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G, and A. Its key signature has two flats, B flat and E flat.

B major scale

The pitches of the B major scale are B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, and A#. Its key signature has five sharps.

                             CONCLUSION

If you have been able to read and understand to this oont, I want to say a big congratulations to you because you're on your way to greatness. Now, I want to get to your piano and find the major scale of key F#. Drop the major scale on the comment section let's see if you got it right.

Please 🙏 . Make sure to leave a comment on the comment section below. Let us know if you have any questions, feedback etc.

See You In Next Lesson.