Well, let’s get to work!
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Piano Lessons Workshop #1: Major Scales (i)
In music, there is a pattern for everything! I’m going to teach you the pattern used to create major scales.
First, let’s start with the basics. There are 12 major scales; one for every major key on the piano
You have the white keys:
C major
D major
E major
F major
G major
A major
B major
… and then you have the black keys (called “sharps” or “flats”):
C Sharp or D flat
D Sharp or E flat
F Sharp or G flat
G Sharp or A flat
A Sharp or B flat
Today, we will learn how to form the following major scales:
(1) C Major Scale
(2) D Major Scale
(3) E Major Scale
(4) F Major Scale
(5) G Major Scale
(6) A Major Scale
In order to form major scales, you have to understand the concept of “whole steps and half steps.” I have a free piano lesson on “whole and half step intervals” at: http://www.hearandplay.com/p2abc3xkpt.html
… but for the sake of this e-mail lesson, I will recap:
Whole steps and half steps describe distance in music. That is, the distance in notes from one key to another.
————-
Whole Step
————-
A “whole” step always skips a key…
————-
Half Step
————-
A “half” step never skips a key…
Remember this poem:
“A half step is from KEY TO KEY with NO keys in between,
A whole step always SKIPS a key with one key in between”
EXAMPLES:
“D” is 1 whole step higher than “C”
Why? Because if you start at C and “skip” a key, you’ll arrive at “D”. What key are you skipping? Let’s see:
C — (skip C#) — D
However, “C#” is 1 half step higher than “C”
Why? Because you are NOT skipping any keys to go from “C” to “C#.”
So essentially:
1 Whole Step = 2 keys
1 Half Step = 1 key
More examples:
C to D = 1 whole step
C to E = 2 whole steps
… and so on.
(Whole Step = “w” *** Half Step = “h”)
The Major Scale pattern is as follow:
w - w - h - w - w - w - h
This means:
1. From the starting note, the second note will be 1 (w)hole step higher.
2. From the second note, the third note will be another whole step higher.
3. From the third note, the fourth note will be a (h)alf step higher.
4. From the fourth note, the fifth note will be a whole step higher.
5. From the fifth tone, the sixth note will be a whole step higher.
6. From the sixth tone, the seventh tone will also be a whole step higher.
7. From the seventh tone, the last tone will be only a half step higher.
In C major:
1. The starting note is “C”
2. 1 whole step up is “D” (w)
3. Another whole step up is “E” (w)
4. 1 half step up is “F” (h)
5. 1 whole step up is “G” (w)
6. Another whole step up is “A” (w)
7. Another whole step up is “B” (w)
8. 1 half step up is “C” (h)
Exercise:
Repeat these 8 steps with the following major scales. The answers are listed below:
2) D major
3) E major
4) F major
5) G major
6) A major
————————–
D major:
1) Starting note = ______
2) 1 whole step up = ______
3) 1 whole step up = ______
4) 1 half step up = _____
5) 1 whole step up = ______
6) 1 whole step up = ______
7) 1 whole step up = ______
8) 1 half step up = ______
E major:
1) Starting note = ______
2) 1 whole step up = ______
3) 1 whole step up = ______
4) 1 half step up = _____
5) 1 whole step up = ______
6) 1 whole step up = ______
7) 1 whole step up = ______
8) 1 half step up = ______
F major:
1) Starting note = ______
2) 1 whole step up = ______
3) 1 whole step up = ______
4) 1 half step up = _____
5) 1 whole step up = ______
6) 1 whole step up = ______
7) 1 whole step up = ______
8) 1 half step up = ______
G major:
1) Starting note = ______
2) 1 whole step up = ______
3) 1 whole step up = ______
4) 1 half step up = _____
5) 1 whole step up = ______
6) 1 whole step up = ______
7) 1 whole step up = ______
8) 1 half step up = ______
A major:
1) Starting note = ______
2) 1 whole step up = ______
3) 1 whole step up = ______
4) 1 half step up = _____
5) 1 whole step up = ______
6) 1 whole step up = ______
7) 1 whole step up = ______
8) 1 half step up = ______
———————————-
Note: Remember, in major scales, each note is played separately. Only in chords are more than 2 notes played at the same time.
Scales = play each note separately
Chords = play all notes together
Here are the answers:
D major
D - E - F# - G - A - B - C# - D
E major
E - F# - G# - A - B - C# - D# - E
F major
F - G - A - Bb - C - D - E - F
G major
G - A - B - C - D - E - F# - G
A major
A - B - C# - D - E - F# - G# - A
——————–
If you thought this little lesson was informative, imagine what you will learn in my 300-pg piano course? For more information, visit:
http://www.hearandplay.com/course
… or call 1-877-856-4187
Thank you for your time!
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August 21st, 2008 (comment#1)
.,this site is so informative.,.this is very useful for those who are inspiring to be a good musicians
August 28th, 2008 (comment#2)
Love all this info!! Thank You from my whole heart !! Tomorrow I’m making my order.
August 28th, 2008 (comment#3)
@kate @ortencia: thanks so much! you guys are awesome! there’s so much to learn at this site so make sure to be back regularly!
jermaine
September 15th, 2008 (comment#4)
Dear Mr J. Griggs
I would like to order but would like to be very sure of my exact order: I would like to know whether could I get a package of Gospelkeys101, 202 and the 300 page.
As soon as we hear from you we would like to order.
We are communicating to you via the internet cafe, well our small town is a rural one. Otherwise I assure you we are very much delighted and like your products, music etc
Best regards
Michael Hart
September 15th, 2008 (comment#5)
@Michael: Hi and thanks for your comment. The closest package we have to that online is http://www.hearandplay.com/tripleorder (but it has GK101, 202, and 300). To get something custom not found on the website, please give us a call at 1-877-856-4187 or use skype to call us at “hearandplay” skype
Thanks,
JG
October 4th, 2008 (comment#6)
Dear Mr. Griggs,
Thanks so much for your free info. I have been learning to play piano back and forth. To tell you honestly, I am tired of learning with a piano teacher because I know it will take me years so I tried to learn by myself reading notes by myself. I also planned to get a degree in Music to fulfill my desire to be in the Music circle and to be professional but I’m already going 59. I dread going to college with young ones and afraid of being asked to join recitals. Ha,ha,ha. Now I would like to try your techniques and I am very eager to learn and play the piano even at social gatherings or to entertain myself. Ha,ha again. I would like to order soonest. Thanks again and more power to your endeavours.
October 4th, 2008 (comment#7)
@Lourdes: Thanks for taking the time to write! I totally feel where you’re coming from. Stick with it though. It will pay off. You’ve got tons of information here and if you stick with the order in which I lay out stuff at http://www.hearandplay.com/main/lesson-plan-overview you’ll be fine!
All the best,
Jermaine
October 22nd, 2008 (comment#8)
Dear Mr. J Griggs
The site was very much informative.. It explains in a very simple manner how to learn the scales..
Thank you very much… May God bless you…
October 29th, 2008 (comment#9)
just ordered one of your christmas lessons and I think it will be fun for me and the children of the church. musicians are expensive so I think we can grow some
of our own.Thanks for the inspiration and demonstration. Be blessed some more.
October 30th, 2008 (comment#10)
Is there a way to print out the lessons so I can take them to the piano?
November 15th, 2008 (comment#11)
Still going well. I can’t believe that learning music could be so enjoyable and your tutorials so informative.
November 16th, 2008 (comment#12)
Hi Jermaine
Thanks for your email. I have worked through the above lesson and I am a little confused on one point that is in the F major scale 1 whole step up from A I make out to be A sharp but your answer sheet states it is B flat. How is it Bflat?
November 20th, 2008 (comment#13)
Hi I find this lesson very useful, I have been playing piano (reading music only) for a number of years, I want to learn the chords so I can enjoy the piano more. I am from the old school of getting my knukles cracked with a ruler if I hit a wrong note, so I am very timid when I do hit a wrong note. I think your course could be helpful. I am in the process of getting a princess grand piano and I want to really learn to play well . thank you Sandy
November 20th, 2008 (comment#14)
Bryan: You are correct from a note perspective in thinking that the note is an A#, but it is also a Bb from a purely note perspective. A sharp is one half-step up, and a flat is one half-step down, so one note can be both a sharp and a flat at different times. The key you are in determines which it is. You can either memorize each scale or a handy trick is that each letter (A, Bb, C#…ect) must be used only once. So you can say that because your last note was an A, the next one must be a Bb, not an A#.
PS It is a half-step from A to Bb.
February 3rd, 2009 (comment#15)
You explain it so easily! Thank you! =D
February 10th, 2009 (comment#16)
i need a tutor note/book for personal tutorial. get me a copy either by post to DEEPER LIFE BIBLE CHURCH, HEADQUATERS,IBTC, LAGOS. NAME:BLESSING CLARKSON. OR Send downloadable materials via my mail. i appreciate u. Thanks.
February 27th, 2009 (comment#17)
Thanks for this tutorial! It’s very useful…. keep it up
March 26th, 2009 (comment#18)
thanks!!!
already im finding this website useful.
that pattern (wwhwwwh)realy helps to figure out scales.
=)
March 30th, 2009 (comment#19)
First of all i wanna bless you by the name of the mighty lord ,to speak truely i gain a basic knowledge by this short lesson.
The Living God bless you richly!
April 5th, 2009 (comment#20)
Thanks for this wonderful website.
April 17th, 2009 (comment#21)
wow! when I found this site, I explored it and found that this site is interesting!! Thanks to Mr. Jermaine Griggs!! Hope that you would be success always..JBU always!! ^-^
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Thanks for it.
my greetings
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I want to begin with the first set of material;
“Secrets To Playing Piano By Ear” 300pg Course With Bonus Ear Training Software’.
I live in Africa and I do not have a credit card. Can I pay by wiring the money? i.e. SWIFT TRANSFER. Its the easiest for me, secure and fast. Please give me the bank details so I do my first payment. If I manage to get this first package successfully, I challenge myself [you can do a follow up on me] to buy all your stuff until am so good. I want to learn your skill.
Second, once the material gets to my country, am I paying tax on it? Would you know?
God bless
Tolanda.
June 29th, 2009 (comment#24)
hey this is great. Before I read this I really didn’t understand the whole step and half step process, and the little quiz was a genius idea because it showed me that I understood it when I actually knew what i was doing. Again thank you.
July 22nd, 2009 (comment#25)
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<(^^<)
July 22nd, 2009 (comment#26)
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September 21st, 2009 (comment#28)
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October 26th, 2009 (comment#29)
Great!
November 16th, 2009 (comment#30)
oh! its so Great, at mabuhay ka so very thankful for this website and Free lesson, GOD speed for you!