| Scales are often overlooked as a beginner when it | | | | Beginners should begin playing the piano scales with |
| comes to learning how to play piano. The scales are | | | | their preferred hand. In this case I will tell you how to |
| fundamental to our learning. I believe that we should | | | | use your right hand to play the piano. If we take a look |
| learn the major scales first as a piano player. More | | | | at C major we start with our thumb and then move on |
| advanced skills can be taught after we know our | | | | to the index finger and then the middle finger. It is then |
| scales. | | | | back to the thumb again and all the way through to the |
| So what makes up a major scale? It is made up of a | | | | little finger. |
| pattern of half tones and whole tones. What exactly | | | | We should learn playing the scales with one hand at a |
| do I mean by this? When I talk about half tones I mean | | | | time first. As we get better we can start playing with |
| moving one key up or down the piano keyboard. The | | | | our non-preferred hand. As we master both our hands |
| piano usually has 88 keys made up of black and white | | | | we then move on to playing simultaneous with both |
| ones. | | | | hands. Mastering scales with our non-preferred hand is |
| Say we start at middle C which is a white key | | | | already hard. Playing with both hands at the same time |
| normally located in the middle of the piano keyboard. If | | | | is even harder. |
| we push on the D key next to it we have moved up a | | | | We should practise playing the piano with a |
| whole tone. A whole tone is equivalent to moving up | | | | metronome. As a beginner we should get the tempo |
| two half tones. C to D means we have moved up | | | | right from the very beginning. Using a metronome |
| two keys. There is a black key between the C and | | | | allows us to play at the right tempo. Playing at the |
| the D key. | | | | wrong tempo is a common mistake that a lot of |
| Now that we understand what I mean with half and | | | | beginners make. |
| whole tones we are one step further into learning how | | | | Learning how to play piano should always be done |
| to play piano scales. | | | | with the correct posture. We shouldn't hunch over the |
| A major scale follows the pattern of moving up two | | | | piano and our fingers should be curled slightly. Don't |
| whole tones and then a half tone. This is followed by | | | | play the piano with straight fingers. Imagine yourself |
| three whole tones and finally a half tone. To visualise | | | | sitting at a computer desk and typing on a keyboard, |
| this a little clearer we can denote a half tone with a H | | | | this kind of sitting position should be how we should sit |
| and whole tone with a W. The pattern will look like this: | | | | at a piano. Remember to keep our back straight. |
| WWHWWWH | | | | In conclusion, learning how to play the major scales as |
| If we just memorise this pattern of WWHWWWH we | | | | a beginner is very vital. We use it as a building block |
| can play the major scale of any key on the keyboard. | | | | for the learning of many other piano playing skills like |
| The easiest one to play is C major. It is just all the | | | | chords and simple pieces. There are a lot of online |
| white keys starting at C and ending at the next C. | | | | learning courses that teach piano players the scales at |
| There is a little skill required when we play the scales, | | | | the beginning and move on to more advanced skills. |
| we need to know which finger plays what. | | | | Remember that practise makes perfect. |