Playing the piano
The G major scale
Give it a try Audio file Listen to the audio files and follow along on your own keyboard
The major scale that’s a fifth after C has just one sharp: F sharp
A
s we have observed, there are seven different white keys (notes): A, B, C, D, E, F and G. For each set of seven white keys however, there are only five black keys. Each of the black keys can be known by either its sharp name, or its flat name. Remember, the ‘flat’ of a white key is always below the note, and the ‘sharp’ is always above. The black key used in the F major scale is the note Bb which replaces B for that scale. In other scales, the same black note might be referred to as an A#. In this way, some scales use the flat names for the black notes used, and some use the sharp names,
but they will never use both. Adding together the seven white keys or notes, with the five black keys gives us the sum total of 12 notes each with its own unique pitch or sound frequency. There are 12 different major scales in all, one beginning on each of the 12 notes. You have already
seen how to play C major, the scale with no sharps or flats and F major, having one flat. The next scale to learn is G major. This scale also contains a single black key, but this time it is referred to as a sharp. The sharp note in G major is F#, located between the F and G keys.
“Some scales use the flat names for the black notes used and some use the sharp names, but they will never use both”
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01 The right hand
02 The left hand
Start with your thumb on G (four notes above middle C) and follow the pattern: G (1), A (2), B (3), C (1) (tuck), D (2), E (3), F# (4), G (5). Notice that the fingering pattern is the same as C major. Descend in reverse order.
Begin with your small finger on the G situated two octaves below the right hand starting G, and follow the same fingering pattern that you learned for C major: G (5), A (4), B (3), C (2), D (1), E (3) (bring over thumb), F# (2), G (1). Now descend.
68 Piano for Beginners
