| There are dozens of piano scales in music. There are | | | | start on the root note and use the formula: |
| major, minor, pentatonic and a whole lot more. There | | | | W-H-W-W-H-W-W. Using this formula, you will see |
| are four important piano scales that every piano | | | | that the notes of the C natural minor scale are |
| should learn. This article will tell you what those scales | | | | C-D-Eb-F-G-Ab-Bb-C. The notes of the F natural |
| are and how to play them. | | | | minor scale are F-G-Ab-Bb-C-Db-Eb-F. |
| Half Steps/Whole Steps | | | | Melodic minor |
| To learn how to play piano scales, you must first | | | | The next set of piano scales to learn is the melodic |
| understand half and whole steps. A half-step is the | | | | minor scales. To play a melodic minor scale, you begin |
| distance from one note to the very next note. For | | | | on the root note and use the following formula: |
| example, the distance between E and F is a half step. | | | | W-H-W-W-W-W-H. By using the formula, you will see |
| The distance from F to F# is a half step. A whole | | | | that the notes of the C melodic minor scale are |
| step is simply two half steps combined. The | | | | C-D-Eb-F-G-A-B-C. The notes that make up the F |
| distances from C to D and G to A are whole steps. | | | | melodic minor scale are F-G-Ab-Bb-C-D-E-F. |
| In learning how to play the scales, we will refer to | | | | Harmonic Minor |
| half steps with an H and whole steps will be referred | | | | The last set of piano scales that everyone should |
| to as a W. | | | | know is the harmonic minor scale. The only difference |
| Major | | | | between the harmonic minor and the melodic minor |
| Major piano scales are the most common type of | | | | scale is the sixth note. Instead of going up 1 whole |
| scales used in Western music. To play a major scale, | | | | step from the fifth note, you are supposed to go up |
| you simply start on the root note and use the | | | | 1 1/2 whole steps (3 half steps). Therefore, the |
| following formula: W-W-H-W-W-W-H. Using this | | | | notes that make up the C harmonic minor scale are |
| formula, you will find that the notes of the C major | | | | C-D-Eb-F-G-Ab-B-C. The F harmonic minor scale is |
| scale are C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C. The notes of the F major | | | | made up of F-G-Ab-Bb-C-Db-E-F. |
| scale are F-G-A-Bb-C-D-E-F. You can use this formula | | | | These are the most important piano scales to learn. |
| to find the major scale of any key. | | | | You should pick a key and learn all four scales before |
| Natural Minor | | | | moving on to the next key. Soon, you will be able to |
| Natural minor scales are also the most commonly | | | | play all of the piano scales quickly and easily. |
| used piano scales. To play a natural minor scale, you | | | | |