A scale is a run of notes going up and down, like a staircase. Playing scales every day is almost every musician's warm-up: it makes your fingers quick, teaches you where the notes are on your instrument and tunes your ear. In the Scales tab of Dedilhado Vivo you pick a scale, see the notes on the staff and play it on your instrument. The app listens through the microphone and only moves on when the note is right.
Which scales you can practice
| Scale | Notes | Key signature |
|---|---|---|
| C major | C D E F G A B C | no sharps or flats |
| G major | G A B C D E F♯ G | 1 sharp (F♯) |
| D major | D E F♯ G A B C♯ D | 2 sharps (F♯, C♯) |
| F major | F G A B♭ C D E F | 1 flat (B♭) |
| A natural minor | A B C D E F G A | none |
| A harmonic minor | A B C D E F G♯ A | the 7th is raised a half step |
| E minor | E F♯ G A B C D E | 1 sharp (F♯) |
| A minor pentatonic | A C D E G A | only 5 notes |
| Chromatic from C | all 12 notes | half step by half step |
The app only shows the scales that fit your instrument. On the piano there are also left-hand scales in the bass clef.
Piano scale fingering
With five fingers and eight notes, your hand has to move in the middle of the scale. In the right hand, going up, the thumb passes under after finger 3; going down, finger 3 crosses over the thumb.
| Scale | Right hand (up) | Left hand (up) |
|---|---|---|
| C, G, D, A minor, E minor | 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 | 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 |
| F major | 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 | 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 |
Going down, it's the same path in reverse. Keep your wrist loose and bring the thumb close to the next key before crossing.
How to practice scales well
- Slow first. Play at a tempo where you don't miss a single note.
- Even sound. Every note at the same volume and length.
- One scale at a time. Move on once the last one comes out clean three times in a row.
- A little every day. Five minutes a day beats an hour at the weekend.
Ready for your first scale?
Open the Scales tab, pick C major and play with the microphone on.
Practice scales for freeLearn the theory behind it
In the free music theory course: the major scale, the minor scale and whole and half steps.
Other guides
Frequently asked questions
Which scale should I learn first?
C major. On the piano it uses only white keys, and on the flute and recorder it's the first full scale you can play.
How long should I practice scales each day?
About five minutes a day, before working on songs. What matters most is playing slowly and without mistakes.
What is the pentatonic scale?
It's a scale with only five notes. The A minor pentatonic (A, C, D, E, G) is the one most used in rock and blues solos.
Why does the thumb pass under on the piano?
Because the scale has eight notes and the hand only has five fingers. When the thumb passes under, the hand moves to a new position without breaking the sound.
Does the app work for practicing scales on violin and guitar?
Yes. The Scales tab shows the scales that fit each instrument, and the microphone checks every note.