Beginner Piano Scales

These are the scales to start with: straightforward patterns in keys with few black notes, where the standard fingering is the obvious one and the thumb crossings are where you would guess. Get these fluent before adding accidentals.

42 scales carry this tag, across 7 scale types: major, natural minor, major pentatonic, minor pentatonic, blues, dorian, mixolydian. Each one has its notes spelled for that key, a fingering worked out for that key, and a piano you can play it on.

Major Scales

The foundation of Western music. Bright, happy, and resolved.

C
C – D – E – F – G – A – B
D
D – E – F# – G – A – B – C#
Eb
Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb – C – D
F
F – G – A – Bb – C – D – E
G
G – A – B – C – D – E – F#
A
A – B – C# – D – E – F# – G#
Bb
Bb – C – D – Eb – F – G – A

Natural Minor Scales

The basis of minor keys. Dark, emotional, and introspective.

C
C – D – Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb
D
D – E – F – G – A – Bb – C
E
E – F# – G – A – B – C – D
F#
F# – G# – A – B – C# – D – E
G
G – A – Bb – C – D – Eb – F
A
A – B – C – D – E – F – G
B
B – C# – D – E – F# – G – A

Major Pentatonic Scales

A five-note scale that sounds universally pleasant — used in folk, pop, and rock.

C
C – D – E – G – A
D
D – E – F# – A – B
Eb
Eb – F – G – Bb – C
E
E – F# – G# – B – C#
F
F – G – A – C – D
G
G – A – B – D – E
Ab
Ab – Bb – C – Eb – F
A
A – B – C# – E – F#
Bb
Bb – C – D – F – G

Minor Pentatonic Scales

The go-to scale for blues and rock. Raw and soulful.

C
C – Eb – F – G – Bb
C#
C# – E – F# – G# – B
D
D – F – G – A – C
E
E – G – A – B – D
F
F – Ab – Bb – C – Eb
F#
F# – A – B – C# – E
G
G – Bb – C – D – F
A
A – C – D – E – G
B
B – D – E – F# – A

Blues Scales

Adds the iconic "blue note" to the minor pentatonic. Essential for blues and jazz.

D
D – F – G – Ab – A – C
E
E – G – A – Bb – B – D
A
A – C – D – Eb – E – G
B
B – D – E – F – F# – A

Dorian Scales

A cool minor mode popular in jazz, funk, and Latin music.

D
D – E – F – G – A – B – C
G
G – A – Bb – C – D – E – F
A
A – B – C – D – E – F# – G

Mixolydian Scales

A dominant-sounding mode — the sound of classic rock and funk.

C
C – D – E – F – G – A – Bb
D
D – E – F# – G – A – B – C
G
G – A – B – C – D – E – F

Other tags

The same 120 scales, sorted a different way.

StyleClassical60Romantic24Jazz36Blues36Rock48Folk48Pop36Funk & Soul24Film Score36Middle Eastern12Modal24
MoodBright36Dark12Dramatic24
UseImprovisation60Technique12
LevelBeginner42Intermediate57Advanced21

Back to the full scale library for all 120 scales grouped by type.