Piano scales

Scales source and guide for musicians

Piano Major arpeggios

Close related to the Major scales are these arpeggios based on Major triads (three-note chords).

Arpeggios can be used for melody lines and solos. The pattern shown in the diagrams below can be played all over the keyboard. Arpeggios are similar to scales, but could be seen as more melodic and more colorful. The general fingering is (right hand ascending): 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3. To accomplish this, the thumb should go under the hand to the next octave and use the long finger as pivot finger. Notice that arpeggios also can be based on seventh chords and other chords types, and that the order of notes can be varied.

The musical notation above is a C Major arpeggio from root over two octaves and ending on the root on the third octave above (see more note examples below in downloadable pdf):

Major arpeggios overview
C: C, E, G, C
C#/Db: C#, F, G#, C# / Db, F, Ab, Db
D: D, F#, A, D
D#/Eb: D#, F##, A#, D# / Eb, G, Bb, Eb
E: E, G#, B, E
F: F, A, C, F
F#/Gb: F#, A#, C#, F# / Gb, Bb, Db, Gb
G: G, B, D, G
G#/Ab: G#, B#, D#, G# / Ab, C, Eb, Ab
A: A, C#, E, A
A#/Bb: A#, C##, E#, A# / Bb, D, F, Bb
B: B, D#, F#, B