What Order Should I Teach Piano Scales?

As a piano instructor, you have probably noticed that there is a sensible order in which topics are introduced to students. After all, it makes no sense to start talking about the more advanced subject matter before your student has even learned to identify the keys of the piano.

Plus, learning things in a sensible order is smart because it may prevent your students from developing poor habits. Remember that it is much easier to learn new skills the right way the first time rather than needing to unlearn bad habits farther down the road.

It's also simply easier to introduce more basic subjects before letting things become more complicated. That's why so many piano teachers emphasize the scales in the earliest stages of lessons.

To the student, it is easy for scales to seem like a tedious, monotonous exercise that they would rather speed through, but this can be a major mistake. Understanding the scales, and being able to play them proficiently, is a crucial first step toward becoming an accomplished musician.

Where Do You Start with Scales?

Most seasoned piano instructors agree that scales should be introduced in roughly this order:

• Major scales
• Natural minor scales
• Harmonic minor scales
• Melodic minor scales
• Chromatic scales
• Blues scales
• Pentatonic scales
• Whole-tone scales

Of course, it is important to first introduce your students to scales.

What Are Scales?

Music teachers frequently explain to students that a scale is simply a set of music notes that are ordered by pitch. They are considered the backbone of most music compositions, and it is common for one single to provide both the melody and the harmony to a piece.

In general, a scale spans one octave, which includes eight keys. An example of an octave is C, D, E, F, G, A, B, and C.

With a dozen major scales and a minimum of 36 minor scales, which includes the harmonic minors, the natural minors, and the melodic minors, it's clear that new students have a great deal to learn when scales are introduced.

The reason that major scales usually are examined first is that they are foundational to the musician's understanding of musical keys. That's why the majority of teachers begin teaching the C Major scale first.

The C Major Scale with the Right Hand

Most people are right-handed, which may make it easiest and most natural to introduce the C Major scale as it is played with the right hand.

Most musicians consider it the easiest scale, probably because it's the first one they learned and they have practiced it the most.

However, this scale also is easiest because it does not involve any flats or sharps. This means that it can be played only with white keys on the piano, which also may be called natural keys.

The C Major scale begins with Middle C on the keyboard, and it ends on the subsequent C note.

Ensure Proper Fingering

Good fingering is absolutely critical to adept piano playing, and this means that it's crucial to practice scales with the fingers properly curved and to use the correct finger to strike each key.

Consequently, playing the C Major scale begins with the right thumb on Middle C. The next two notes, which are D and D, are played with the index and middle fingers. The thumb is then crossed under the third finger and is placed on the F key. With this fingering, it is easy to go on with the scale using the index, middle finger, ring finger, and pinky on G, A, B and C.

Of course, that is only part of the battle. It is then essential for the student to learn how to reverse the C Major scale. The same fingering is used in reverse, which means that:

• The pinky plays the first key
• Then the ring finger plays the second key
• The middle finger plays the third key
• The index finger plays the fourth key
• The thumb plays the fifth key
• Cross over the thumb with the third finger for the sixth key
• The index finger plays the seventh key
• The thumb plays the final C

Introduce the C Major Scale with the Left Hand

Because most people are right-handed, playing the bass clef C Major scale typically is a great deal more challenging.

The left-handed fingering for this scale begins with the bottom C being played with the pinky, D is played with the ring finger, E with the middle finger, F with the index finger, and G with the thumb. The thumb is then crossed over by the middle finger to play the A, the B is played with the index finger and the final C is played with the thumb.

Of course, just as with the right hand, it is critical that the student be able to play the scale with their left hand in reverse. This begins with the left thumb on the C key, the index finger on B, and the middle finger on A. The thumb is then crossed under the middle finger to play the G, then the F with the index finger, the E with the middle finger, the D with the ring finger, and the C with the pinky.

Playing a C Major Scale Simultaneously with Both Hands

The major challenge of learning to play scales is playing them simultaneously with both hands. Encourage your students to practice with each hand alone until it begins to feel more natural. Then, ask them to play with both hands at the same time.

Chances are good that your student will protest that they are not ready to play both hands at once. Nevertheless, encourage them to give it a try. It might just be easier than they think.

As they play, remind them to keep using the correct fingering on each hand. This is where it is really critical that they learn how to do it right from the beginning. Getting the fingering wrong on scales at the early stages sets your students up for a great deal of confusion and frustration farther down the road. If you see improper fingering, ask your student to slow down and keep practicing. They absolutely can get this down.

It's Awkward for Everyone

Here is where scales start to seem really tedious. Admittedly, scales are awkward, especially for a new piano student. The only way to get past this awkwardness is to keep practicing.

It is only natural for a student to protest that they just want to play songs, not scales. However, there is general agreement among seasoned musicians and instructors that knowing your scales forward and backward is essential to becoming a competent musician.

Consider adding a book like Scales and Finger Exercises by the Hal Leonard Corp. to give your students a guidebook for productive practice.

What's After the C Major Scale?

When playing the C Major scale starts to feel like more of a routine and less of a challenge, then it is time to start introducing the next major scale. In the minds of most piano instructors, this means the G Major scale.

Remind your students that the fingering remains the same for all scales, which means that it should be relatively easy to learn new scales once the C Major scale is pretty well mastered.

It is common for piano instructors to have their students learn the remaining natural major scales before moving onto the sharps and flats.

Most students can only handle learning one scale per week. Above all, do not rush your students through this process. Doing so may only encourage them to use incorrect fingering. Plus, you definitely do not want to overwhelm or scare a student away from learning how to play.

Minor Scales

Once the student is comfortably familiar with the major scales, it's time to introduce the minor scales. Most instructors begin with A Minor, then A Sharp/B Flat Minor, B Minor, C Minor, and so on.

Together with the major scales, these natural minor scales are the basic building blocks that are used to learn how to play the piano. As the student progresses and their interest grows, they can begin to learn harmonic, melodic, and other scales.

Turn to Prodigies

Do you need to introduce your children or students to the rudiments of music, including scales? If so, then it is time to browse through the digital plans at Prodigies Music. Our engaging lessons are just the thing for fostering an early interest in music.