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: https://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.
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Whole Step
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A “whole” step always skips a key…
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Half Step
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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
Just remember: “Why Won’t He Wear White When Hot” (I made it up… based on a true statement said to me by my wife!)
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
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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 = ______
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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
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If you thought this little lesson was informative, imagine what you will learn in my 300-pg piano course? For more information, visit:
https://www.hearandplay.com/course
… or call 1-877-856-4187
Thank you for your time!
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