Playing scales on the keyboard

     Now I am going to teach you to play scales on the keyboard. SCALES are simply sequences of keys which can be found by using a specific pattern of intervals or units of musical space.

     Scale patterns are made from combinations of the intervals ONE, TWO and THREE.

     Any scale can be started on any white key or any black key.

     I'll start by showing you the most common scale pattern called the Major scale. In this scale pattern the number 2 represents TWO (the interval of a tone or whole step) and the number 1 represents ONE (the interval of a semitone or half step):

Major scale:    2    2    1    2    2    2    1

Here is an example of how to play this scale using your INDEX finger and starting on the white key of D:
  Play the white key of D.
   Count up TWO and play the white key of E.
   Count up TWO and play the black key of F# .
   Count up ONE and play the white key of G.
   Count up TWO and play the white key of A.
   Count up TWO and play the white key of B.
   Count up TWO and play the black key of C# .
   Count up ONE and play the white key of D.

     You just played D Major scale because you started on the white key of D and used the Major scale pattern:      2    2    1    2    2    2    1

     Easy? Of course it is. Music is simple and when it stops being simple and fun it stops being music!

     Now try playing the Major scale pattern ( 2    2    1    2    2    2    1  ) starting on other white keys or on black keys. Major scales are known by whatever key you start on, for example, D Major scale, D# Major scale (which could also be called Eb Major scale), E Major scale and so on.

     Notice how the Major scale pattern can be started on ANY white key or ANY black key?

     What are scales used for? A scale pattern started on any key produces a specific selection of white and black keys. This selection of white and black keys are then used as the building blocks to create different melodies.

     Don't worry about the significance of the names of the scale patterns or which specific fingers to play each white or black key with for now. Just continue to use your INDEX finger and have fun playing around with them!
     Remember, any scale pattern can be started on ANY white key or on ANY black key.
     Here are some other scale patterns made from combinations of the intervals ONE, TWO and THREE.

     In these scale patterns the number 2 represents TWO (the interval of a tone or whole step) and the number 1 represents ONE (the interval of a semitone or half step). The number 3 represents THREE (the interval equal to 3 semitones or 3 half steps).

Major scale:    2     2    1    2    2    2    1

Natural minor scale:    2    1    2    2    1    2    2

Harmonic minor scale:    2    1    2    2    1    3    1

Jazz minor scale:    2    1    2    2    2    2    1

Hungarian minor scale:    2    1    3    1    1    3   1

Blues scale:    3    2    1    1    3    2

Major pentatonic scale:    2    2    3    2    3

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