Piano Practice
Primary 6 · Creative Arts
Piano Practice
Lesson 2 of 5
30 min
Let's begin
Ishimwe can play C D E F G with his right hand in C position. "But the C scale has eight notes, and I have only five fingers!" he laughs.
His teacher shows him a clever trick: the thumb can travel under the hand.
Going up: play C D E with fingers 1 2 3. While finger 3 holds E, tuck your thumb under your hand and play F with 1. Then play G A B C with 2 3 4 5.
Coming down: play C B A G F with 5 4 3 2 1. While your thumb holds F, cross finger 3 over the thumb to play E. Then play D with 2 and C with 1.
The small numbers above the notes are finger numbers. The two red numbers show where the hand changes position: the thumb passing under to F on the way up, and finger 3 crossing over to E on the way down. The scale is written in four-four time: play one note on each beat, and hold the last C for two beats.
Tip
1 2 3, tuck, 1 2 3 4 5. Coming down: 5 4 3 2 1, cross, 3 2 1. Say it while you play.
Try each one first, then tap Show answer to check.
In the right-hand C scale going up, which note does your thumb play after it tucks under?
Answer: F.
Which finger plays the top C of the scale?
Answer: Finger 5, the little finger.
Coming down, which finger crosses over your thumb, and onto which note?
Answer: Finger 3, onto E.
Going up, on which two notes does the right thumb play?
Answer: C and F.
When you play the scale in three-four time, which notes fall on the strong beat 1?
Answer: C, F and B.
What you learned today
Sources and credits
The fingering shown is the standard fingering for the C major scale. The story, the keyboard and staff diagrams, the practice plan and the practice questions were written by Ganzaa.
This lesson adapts CC BY-SA material and is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Quick check
Going up the C scale with your right hand, finger 3 holds E. What does your thumb do next?
