Explore piano scales with keyboard diagrams and fingering guidance. Work with one hand first, then build a steady, comfortable motion through the scale.
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A good place to start.
Choose a scale and hand
Open Scales below. Choose the key and scale you want to explore, then focus on the fingering for one hand.
Learn the crossings slowly
Notice where the thumb passes under or the fingers move over. Practice that small transition before running the whole scale.
Listen for evenness
Use a comfortable pulse. Aim for even sound and relaxed movement rather than speed. Stop and adjust if a motion feels strained.
Finger numbers stay the same on both hands.
Thumb is 1, index finger 2, middle finger 3, ring finger 4, and little finger 5. The left hand is a mirror image of the right, so the sequence on the keyboard often looks different.
A one-octave C-major starting point
| Hand | Finger sequence |
|---|---|
| Right | 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 |
| Left | 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 |
Reverse these sequences to descend one octave. Do not apply this C-major pattern to every key or to every multi-octave passage. Black-key patterns, direction, and musical context can change the most useful fingering.
Turn a scale into music
Play three notes, pause, and answer with another three-note phrase. Change the rhythm while keeping the notes of the scale. Then return to the even pattern. Scales become more useful when you connect their shapes to sound and phrasing.
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Use the tools freely. When you want a lesson path and personal feedback on your playing, explore Learn Piano Live.
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