For some reason, some of my students really struggle with scale fingerings. I’ve been trying a variety of different tools to help them remember and master the fingerings. One of my students suggested placing diagrams in the back of the assignment books with fingerings for all the scales. I thought that was an excellent idea, so I created the diagrams below for that purpose. Next year, I’m planning to include a complete set in the back of every assignment book.
Feel free to download and print these free piano scale fingering diagrams for use with your students (let me know if you catch any mistakes or have any ideas for improvement!):
UPDATE:
Originally I didn’t create melodic scale fingering diagrams because I figured there wouldn’t be much demand for them. So much for that theory! Based on the feedback and requests I’ve received, I went ahead and created these melodic minor scale fingering diagrams as well. The upper layer of numbers (black and white) is for the ascending scale, and the lower layer of numbers (gray) is for the descending scale. This seemed like the best way to reflect the fingering and key changes within the scale.
Jerry C Stafford says
I am an 84 y.o. professional trumpet player trying to reprise a mediocre ability I once had on the keyboard (mostly ‘blues’). I see you have the Keys of C and G major covered but what about the other key signatures? For instance is fingering for the key of Eb such a logical Permutation that I should be able to figure it out myself?
Thanks in advance for your help and advice
JCS
Thill says
This is a simple and highly effective learning tool for practicing scales. I heartily thank you for making it accessible. I think it wold be great if you would publish a book on scales, chords, and arpeggios with your diagrams.
Joseph Drozd says
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the melodic minor scales!!!! I am a voice student, and can play piano somewhat by ear, but have been getting tripped up on the melodic minor scales. You may just be helping me get an A in my piano class.
Al says
Hello
thank you for your piano scale fingering diargrams.
could you please help me?
i do not know the minor scales, and i do not read music.
I have had much trouble finding it online, and would appreciate if you could tell me.
I understand Ab, A# etc…
thanks
Betsy says
These diagrams are incredible! I just started teaching piano lessons again and I had no resources for scale fingering outside of hand-written ones I whipped up on the spot. These are perfect, thank you so much for putting this together!
Steve B says
What fingering do you suggest for modes in all 12 scales:
Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian?
Carol Galton says
These charts are great! Thank you. Many beginners struggle with reading a couple of octaves of notation, and get bogged down learning and remembering. I am delighted to find this enables pupils to play confidently and accurately straight away. I haven’t used your charts long enough (this is week 1) to know how soon they’ll have committed the scales to muscle memory, but I am sure that with accurate repetitions of each scale they must get there quickly.
As much as the fingerearring guide I like the visual representation of the scale.
There are a few fingerings I would do differently eg F minor left hand, use the standard white key fingering pattern. Also starting finger for right hand on Bb and Eb I would use 2 for comfort. That’s based on my early training, also ABRSM scale fingerings. But those are minor details.
Many thanks again.
Ann says
Thank you very much for sharing the scale fingering diagrams. It is very much appreciated.
Lydia says
Thank you so much for sharing these. They are very useful. My students can definitely benefit from them.
Regina says
Thanks so much for these minor scale sheets. I’m confident the visuals will really help my students!!
Acidri Patrick says
Thank u so much i’m still a learner trying to learn g minor please could u help me to locate them
ShandyeMarie says
Thank you! I’m training myself to play the piano. I’ve written 36 Christian songs and need instrumental. Your fingering diagrams is perfect for me to learn the scales.
Helene Bango says
Thank you Natalie for this very generous gift! Love it! Helene
Bernadette says
Hello
I have been looking on line for any help with fingering for
cmajor scale in thirds.Are you able to offer any fingering guides that would assist?
Many thanks
natalie says
I don’t have any at this point, Bernadette, but that’s a great idea for the future!
ANdrew says
Thank you for posting these. Vary handy for my daughter.
Tommy says
Thanks for posting these for free, you’re amazing!
Learning to play the keys to play in a band and these will be invaluable to my learning, thanks again.
Aurora says
YOU’RE THE BEST
Thank you!!