Piano scales: all 12 major and 12 minor scales
There are 24 scales to learn on the piano: 12 major and 12 minor, one starting on each key. Each major scale shares its key signature with a relative minor three half steps below it, so the 24 scales use only 12 key signatures plus their enharmonic spellings.
Major scales
Every major scale follows the same step pattern, W W H W W W H, starting from a different note. Sorted here from most flats to most sharps, which is the order of the circle of fifths.
| Scale | Notes | Key signature | Relative minor |
|---|---|---|---|
| D Flat Major | D♭, E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B♭, C, D♭ | 5 flats (B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭) | B♭ minor |
| A Flat Major | A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G, A♭ | 4 flats (B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭) | F minor |
| E Flat Major | E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D, E♭ | 3 flats (B♭ E♭ A♭) | C minor |
| B Flat Major | B♭, C, D, E♭, F, G, A, B♭ | 2 flats (B♭ E♭) | G minor |
| F Major | F, G, A, B♭, C, D, E, F | 1 flat (B♭) | D minor |
| C Major | C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C | None | A minor |
| G Major | G, A, B, C, D, E, F♯, G | 1 sharp (F♯) | E minor |
| D Major | D, E, F♯, G, A, B, C♯, D | 2 sharps (F♯ C♯) | B minor |
| A Major | A, B, C♯, D, E, F♯, G♯, A | 3 sharps (F♯ C♯ G♯) | F♯ minor |
| E Major | E, F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯, D♯, E | 4 sharps (F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯) | C♯ minor |
| B Major | B, C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯, A♯, B | 5 sharps (F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯ A♯) | G♯ minor |
| F Sharp Major | F♯, G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯, E♯, F♯ | 6 sharps (F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯ A♯ E♯) | D♯ minor |
Minor scales
Each minor scale shares its key signature with a major scale a minor third above it. The notes shown are the natural minor; each page also gives the harmonic and melodic forms.
| Scale | Notes | Key signature | Relative major |
|---|---|---|---|
| E Flat Minor | E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B♭, C♭, D♭, E♭ | 6 flats (B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ C♭) | G♭ major |
| B Flat Minor | B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B♭ | 5 flats (B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭) | D♭ major |
| F Minor | F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F | 4 flats (B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭) | A♭ major |
| C Minor | C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C | 3 flats (B♭ E♭ A♭) | E♭ major |
| G Minor | G, A, B♭, C, D, E♭, F, G | 2 flats (B♭ E♭) | B♭ major |
| D Minor | D, E, F, G, A, B♭, C, D | 1 flat (B♭) | F major |
| A Minor | A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A | None | C major |
| E Minor | E, F♯, G, A, B, C, D, E | 1 sharp (F♯) | G major |
| B Minor | B, C♯, D, E, F♯, G, A, B | 2 sharps (F♯ C♯) | D major |
| F Sharp Minor | F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯, D, E, F♯ | 3 sharps (F♯ C♯ G♯) | A major |
| C Sharp Minor | C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯ | 4 sharps (F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯) | E major |
| G Sharp Minor | G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯ | 5 sharps (F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯ A♯) | B major |
Which scale to learn first
Most teachers start with C, G, D and F major and their relative minors (A, E, B and D minor), because they need at most two black keys. B major and D flat major are worth learning early too: their black key groups give the hand an obvious shape, and the thumb only ever lands on white keys.
Each scale page lists the notes, the key signature and where it sits on the staff, the standard fingering for both hands, the chords built on every degree and the related keys. Six keys have a second spelling that sounds the same (for example F sharp major and G flat major, or E flat minor and D sharp minor); each pair is covered on one page, under the more common spelling.
Frequently asked questions
How many major and minor scales are there?
There are 12 major and 12 minor scales on the piano, one starting on each of the 12 keys in an octave. Some have two spellings, such as F sharp major and G flat major, which use the same keys.
What is the easiest scale to play on piano?
C major is the easiest to read because it has no sharps or flats. Many teachers find B, F sharp and D flat major the easiest for the hand, because the black keys guide the fingers and the thumb stays on white keys.
What order should I learn piano scales in?
A common order follows the circle of fifths: C, G, D, A, E, then F, B flat, E flat, with each major scale followed by its relative minor.
What is the difference between natural, harmonic and melodic minor?
The natural minor follows the key signature. The harmonic minor raises the 7th note. The melodic minor raises the 6th and 7th going up and usually returns to the natural form coming down.