How to play the C-sharp Major scale on the Piano - Notes, Chords & Exercises

What Are the Notes of the C-sharp Major Scale?

The C-sharp Major scale starts on C# and uses seven sharp notes: C#-D#-E#-F#-G#-A#-B#-C#. On the piano, you need to play all the black keys, and two white ones: E# is the F key. B# is the C key.

How to Play the C-sharp Major Scale With the Right Hand (Treble Clef)

On the piano, you can play the C-sharp Major scale going up (toward the higher notes), or coming down. In the treble clef, do this.

• Play the following notes going up: C#-D#-E#-F#-G#-A#-B#-C#. Start playing the C# with your second finger, and tuck your thumb after you have played the second note (D#) to reach the E# (on the white F key). Play up until your fourth finger reaches the A#, then tuck your thumb again to play the B# with it and the C# with your second finger.
• Play the following notes going down: C#-B#-A#-G#-F#-E#-D#-C#. Reverse exactly what you've done. Start playing with your second, then first finger, then tuck your fourth finger over the thumb to play the A# and continue until your first finger reaches the E#, tuck again, and finish on the second finger.

How to Play the C-sharp Major Scale With the Left Hand (Bass Clef)

Piano beginners may find it difficult to read and play the left hand. It is worth investing some time to really familiarize yourself with the notes of the C-sharp Major scale in the bass clef, and learn how to read them in music scores.

The notes are the same as in the right hand (C#-D#-E#-F#-G#-A#-B#-C#), but they look different:

How to play them

• Going up: Starting with your third finger play up to the thumb, then tuck your fourth finger over to reach the F#. As you continue up until the thumb plays the B#, tuck your second finger to play the C#.
• Coming down: Reverse what you've just done. Start with your second finger, tucking, after you've played the fourth finger and the F#, tuck again to play the E# with the first finger, and take the scale down to C#, played with the third finger.

The C-sharp Major Key Signature

The key signature, located at the beginning of each line of a piece, lets you see which notes will be raised (#) or lowered (b) consistently throughout that piece.

If you spot this key signature below, the piece is likely in C-sharp Major (or in its parallel scale A-sharp minor, you'll be able to determine that from the mood of the piece):

6 Exercises to Practice the C-sharp Major Scale

Play one C-sharp Major exercise after the other and only move on after having correctly played the previous exercise 5 times on your piano:

1. Play the left hand up and down using a metronome and slowly increasing speed
2. Play the right hand up and down using a metronome and slowly increasing speed
3. Play both hands up and down using a metronome and slowly increasing speed
4. Play the left hand up starting from the lowest C-sharp to the highest, and down starting from the highest C-sharp to the lowest
5. Play the right hand up starting from the lowest C-sharp to the highest, and down starting from the highest C-sharp to the lowest
6. Play both hands up starting with the left hand on the lowest C-sharp and stopping when the right hand reaches the highest C-sharp, then play down to the starting position

Why you should exercise scales in general:

• To memorize a scale
• To practice agility and intonation (play all keys with even loudness. Beginners often play the notes they work with their stronger fingers much harder. Aim for an even tone)
• To be able to play the scale in time without hesitating to find your fingerings
• To be able to build chords and improvise

C-sharp Major Chords on the Piano

A chord is constructed of three or more notes: The root note - the major third - the perfect fifth.

In short, this tells us about C-sharp Major :

• The basic C-sharp Major chord consists of C#-E#-G#.
• The first inversion is E#-G#-C#.
• The second inversion is G#-C#-E#.

To practice the C-sharp Major chord and inversions, switch from the chord starting with the root note to the first, and the second inversion, starting slowly using a metronome, then increase your tempo.