Discover Basic Scales for a Beginner to Master on the Piano

Scales that are great for beginners to learn are contrary motion scales. These are the best ones for a beginner, as your fingers are changing at the same time. With most major and minor scales with a few exceptions, there is a fingering pattern that they follow.

Below is an example of the fingering for a contrary motion scale: -

The fingering for your right hand is: -

Ascending: - 123/1234/123/12345

Descending: - 54321/321/4321/321

Left Hand

Descending: - 123/1234/123/12345

Ascending: - 54321/321/4321/321

Can you see the connection - So when doing a contrary motion scale your fingering changes are at the same time. A good way of memorizing this to help you learn it is to say the fingering as you are playing it.

This is how a 2 octave C Major Contrary Motion Scale looks: -

RIGHT HAND ASCENDING

C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C/ B A G F E D C B A G F E D C

1 2 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 (Fingering)

LEFT HAND DESCENDING

C B A G F E D C B A G F E D C/ D E F G A B C D E F G A B C

1 2 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 (Fingering)

So as you can see this is a great scale to start off with, and it will really help improve your technique for your fingering and co-ordination. Once you are happy with this, try moving on to C Major Ascending Scale. Get yourself a scale book, and you will be able to see how this works. The notes are the same as the Contrary motion scale, but your hands start two octaves apart, so your right hand starts on Middle C, and your left hand on the C two octaves below middle C.

Once you have learnt C Major Contrary Motion, and C Major Ascending Scale, why not try out C Major Arpeggio, and C Major Broken Chord. These can all be found in the ABRSM Scales Arpeggios and Broken Chord books. Get yourself a system going, so you cover all the different types of scales. It is crucial for your development on piano to learn some kind of scales. They really do train you to use the correct technique, and get you into good habits. When you go to buy some piano books don't forget your scale books.

You can sometimes find scales on the internet to download for free so take a look and find some for yourself. Use them as your warm up exercise before playing your music.

There are some great free courses to teach anyone from complete beginners to advanced pianists to Learn How to Play Piano.
A great way for beginners to learn is to start off with some really Easy Piano Songs which will get you started and help build that all important confidence.

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