THe First group of scaleS
So far we have played only 5-note scales, with some expansion for 1-4-5-THE-END, and for V7 and IV chords. Now, we’re going play scales with MORE than five notes.
We’ll start away from the keyboard. Set your hands comfortably in your lap. Flip them over so you are looking at your palm. Let your thumb “fold” towards the palm of your hand — just as far you can comfortably go, without reaching or stretching. Which finger does your thumb reach to?
For most people, it will be the 3rd (middle) or 4th (ring) finger, or somewhere between. Remember, the key is to simply “fold” comfortably, without stretching.
Now, set your hands on the keyboard. Can you find the same “thumb fold across the palm comfortably”? This is the key that will unlock our first octave scales.
Right Hand: Fa is the Thumb
Let’s start with C major. This scale is ALL white notes, so it’s a good one to start with. (If you’re not sure how to know that it’s all white notes, see the bottom of this page.)
Now, start out as if your playing the regular 5-note scale. Sing and play, “Do-Re-Mi” — when you get to Fa, “fold” your thumb under so that your thumb can play Fa — “Fa is the thumb.”
Let the rest of your fingers follow your thumb, and finish the scale: “Sol-La-Ti-Do.”
On the way back down, sing the names and make sure your thumb plays “Fa” again. Start with your pinky on “Do,” then sing and play, “Do-Ti-La-Sol-Fa is the thumb.”
Once your thumb gets to Fa, how many notes do you have left now to get back to the Do you started on? Yes, that’s right, 3 notes. So what finger do you fold over your thumb?
If you said “Finger 3, or Middle Finger,” you are correct. Remember to feel that the thumb and fingers are folding just as far as they can comfortably go — no reaching or stretching.
Left Hand: Sol is the thumb
You’ll need the same “thumb fold” method as the right hand, but this time thumb will play Sol, not Fa. Like this:
“Do-Re-Mi-Fa-SOL IS THE THUMB.”
Now, how many notes do you have left to get to the next do? Yes, that’s right, three. So cross to your 3rd (middle) finger, and finish the scale. “La-Ti-Do.”
One the way back down, make sure you fold under for Sol: “Do-Ti-La-SOL IS THE THUMB.
Now go forth and play scales!
Now, pick another white note (this will work for ALL the white notes except left hand B and right hand F — we’ll get to those later). Figure out what the white and black notes are of the scale (see below), and then sing your songs: Right Hand “Do-Re-Mi-FA IS THUMB, Sol-La-Ti-Do” on the way up, and “Do-Ti-La-Sol-FA IS THE THUMB, Mi-Re-Do” on the way down. And for Left Hand “Do-Re-Mi-Fa-SOL IS THE THUMB, La-Ti-Do” on the way up, and “Do-Ti-La-SOL IS THE THUMB, Fa-Mi-Re-Do” on the way down.
*Why C major is all white notes
(or, how to find the notes of any scale)
To review the notes of a scale:
- Play the 5-note scale. (Do-re-mi, all-whole-steps, Fa-is-a-half-step, Sol-is-a-whole-step).
- Play 1-4-5-THE-END.
- Play “Twinkle, twinkle little star”: Do-Do-Sol-Sol-La-La-Sol.
- Now, with one finger, play the 5-note scale, the “Twinkle” note La, and end with “THE-END”. Like this:
- “1-2-3-4-5, Twinkle, THE-END”
- Notice the white and black notes in the scale.
If you do this starting on C, you will find that the scale you play is ALL white notes.
If you’d like a refresher on working through this scale prep, click here (link coming soon).
