Piano scale · Major & minor

A major scale on piano

How to play the A major scale on piano: the keys, the fingering for each hand and the notation.

The do-re-mi scale: bright and resolved. It’s the reference point every other scale is compared to.

Its relative minor is F♯ natural minor — same notes, different home note. See all the chords in the key of A major.

Notes
ABC♯DEF♯G♯
Formula
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Steps
WWHWWWH

Piano

One octave, ascending · numbers are finger numbers

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Suggested fingering

Right handA1B2C♯3D1E2F♯3G♯4A5

Where the finger numbers restart, tuck your thumb under so you never run out of fingers. Coming back down, use the same fingers in reverse. Finger numbers: 1 thumb · 2 index · 3 middle · 4 ring · 5 pinky.

Chords in the A major scale

Stack every other note of the scale to build a chord on each degree.

I A Amaj7 A C♯ E
ii Bm Bm7 B D F♯
iii C♯m C♯m7 C♯ E G♯
IV D Dmaj7 D F♯ A
V E E7 E G♯ B
vi F♯m F♯m7 F♯ A C♯
vii° G♯dim G♯m7♭5 G♯ B D

Sounds great over

A Major scale on piano
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