← Piano · Hands · about 20 min
C major scale
All the white keys in order, and how the thumb tucks under.
The notes
C major is all the white keys from one C to the next C. It has no sharps or flats.
It is the “home base” scale. Almost everything in music theory is explained using it.
Fingering
Fingerings keep your hand smooth. The thumb tucks under your hand after finger 3 going up, and your hand crosses over the thumb coming down.
| Hand | Going up | Coming down |
|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 | 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 |
| Left hand | 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 | 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 |
Practice
Right hand alone
Play slowly, one note per beat, at 60 beats per minute. Keep your wrist level.
Left hand alone
Same thing. Left hand starts on finger 5.
Thumb under
Practice just the “1 2 3 – tuck – 1 2 3 4 5” part until the thumb moves without a bump.
Together
Hands together, one octave apart. Go very slowly.