Piano scale · Major & minor

E major scale on piano

How to play the E 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 C♯ natural minor — same notes, different home note. See all the chords in the key of E major.

Notes
EF♯G♯ABC♯D♯
Formula
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Steps
WWHWWWH

Piano

One octave, ascending · numbers are finger numbers

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Suggested fingering

Right handE1F♯2G♯3A1B2C♯3D♯4E5

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 E major scale

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

I E Emaj7 E G♯ B
ii F♯m F♯m7 F♯ A C♯
iii G♯m G♯m7 G♯ B D♯
IV A Amaj7 A C♯ E
V B B7 B D♯ F♯
vi C♯m C♯m7 C♯ E G♯
vii° D♯dim D♯m7♭5 D♯ F♯ A

Sounds great over

E Major scale on piano
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