Scale Fingerings

for Piano
Practical Music Theory & Piano Skills
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White Key Majors

C, D, E, G, and A major scales may be

played using the same fingering (white key
regular):

RH: 123123412312…
LH: 543213214321…

- 3s together.

-1- -2-
F major scales use a different fingering
because of the Bb. If we were to use the
white key regular fingering, we would have
to play Bb with 1 in both hands. Common
practice is to avoid playing black keys with 1.
Therefore, we will use a better fingering.
RH: 123412312341…
LH: 543213214321…
- 3s together then 2s and 3s alternate.
-3-
B/Cb major scales are likely the easiest to
play because they fit right into the hands.
RH: 12312341231…
LH: 13214321321…
- 1s together on the white keys of the
scale (B/Cb and E/Fb).
- This scale uses the V-W fingering
(see description in next section.)
-4-
Black Key Majors

Db and Gb major scales use the V-W

fingering. 32 and 23 make a V on the group
of two black keys while 432 and 234 make a
W on the group of three black keys.

Db major: Eb major scales use a different fingering:

RH: 2312341231… RH: 3123412312…
LH: 3214321321… LH: 3214321321…
Gb major: - 3s together then 3s and 4s alternate.
RH: 2341231234… - 1s and 2s also alternate.
LH: 4321321432…

- 1s together.
- V-W fingering.

-5- -6-
Ab major scales:

RH: 3412312341…
LH: 3214321321…

- 3s together.

Bb major scales:

RH: 412312341…
LH: 321432132…

- RH4/LH3 together, then RH3/LH4

together…

-7-