Introduction to Scales and Key Signatures and why it’s important important to to know the theory behind them.

Lesson 1. Learn how to play C major 1 octave hands separately and contrary motion.

It’s a really good idea even if you don’t really play piano to learn the scales and key signatures on a piano. The theory behind the scales and key signatures is easier to see using a piano or keyboard - it may even help to draw a keyboard on a scrap of paper so you can see the black notes and see the shape of the scales you are playing.

Lesson 2. How to work out the key signature for major scales and how to work out what key a piece of music is in. The theory behind working out key signatures will enable you to quickly figure out what key a piece of music is in from the sharps in the key signature or to name the sharps of any white note key signature in an instant. In this video we cover C major, G major, D major, A major, E major, B major.

Lesson 3. Learn how to play all the white note major scales 2 octaves. Here, we put the theory we learnt in lesson 2 to practice and go over the finger passing. Good finger technique is really important and working on a good strong hand position will allow you to immediately recognise a scale in a piece of music and trust your fingers to deliver the correct notes without getting the fingers in a tangle. We cover C major, G major, D major, A major, E major, B major

Lesson 4. Learn the key signature rules for the flat keys. The flat key key signatures are F major, Bb major, Eb major, Ab major, Db major & Gb major. These follow a different rule to key signatures with sharps but it is made very simple here and easy to understand. Being familiar with the rules and the order of flats will enable you to immediately identify the key of any piece of music with flats.

Lesson 5. Learn the fingerings and how to play the flat major keys. Learn how to play F major, Bb major, Eb major, Ab major, Db major & Gb major going up 2 octaves with the correct fingers.

Lesson 6. How to work out the minor key signatures. Minor key signatures are easy to work out by finding the relative major key. Learn how in this video which includes the rules for the natural minor, harmonic minor and melodic minor.