Piano scales

Scales source and guide for musicians

Piano Major arpeggios

Closely 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 patterns shown in the diagrams below can be played all over the keyboard. Arpeggios are similar to scales, but can be seen as more melodic and colorful. The general fingering is (right hand ascending): 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3. The thumb should pass under the fingers whereas the middle finger functions as pivot finger. Note that arpeggios can also be based on seventh chords and other chord types, and that the order of notes can be varied.

For using this approach over many octaves, the thumb should pass under all the fingers to reach to key on the next octave and with the little finger as pivot finger.

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

Read more about arpeggios and use the interactive Piano Arpeggio tool.