Complete Scale Reference — Intermediate

Pin this next to your keyboard. Every scale you need for the intermediate course with 2-octave fingerings for both hands. RH = Right Hand, LH = Left Hand. Finger numbers: 1 = thumb, 5 = pinky.

How to Use This Reference

2-octave fingerings are listed for every scale (ascending). Descending is the reverse.
Contrary motion: Both hands start on the same note and move outward (RH ascending, LH descending simultaneously).
Harmonic minor: Natural minor with the 7th degree raised by a half step (marked with *).
Melodic minor: Raised 6th and 7th ascending, natural minor descending.

All 12 Major Scales (2 Octaves)

C Major


Key Signature	No sharps or flats
Notes	C - D - E - F - G - A - B - C
RH (2 oct)	1-2-3-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5
LH (2 oct)	5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3-2-1
Relative Minor	A minor
Contrary Motion	Both thumbs start on C, move outward

Db Major


Key Signature	5 flats (Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb)
Notes	Db - Eb - F - Gb - Ab - Bb - C - Db
RH (2 oct)	2-3-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-1-2-3-4-1-2
LH (2 oct)	3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3
Relative Minor	Bb minor

D Major


Key Signature	2 sharps (F#, C#)
Notes	D - E - F# - G - A - B - C# - D
RH (2 oct)	1-2-3-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5
LH (2 oct)	5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3-2-1
Relative Minor	B minor
Contrary Motion	Both thumbs start on D, move outward

Eb Major


Key Signature	3 flats (Bb, Eb, Ab)
Notes	Eb - F - G - Ab - Bb - C - D - Eb
RH (2 oct)	3-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-1-2-3-4-1-2-3
LH (2 oct)	3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3
Relative Minor	C minor

E Major


Key Signature	4 sharps (F#, C#, G#, D#)
Notes	E - F# - G# - A - B - C# - D# - E
RH (2 oct)	1-2-3-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5
LH (2 oct)	5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3-2-1
Relative Minor	C# minor

F Major


Key Signature	1 flat (Bb)
Notes	F - G - A - Bb - C - D - E - F
RH (2 oct)	1-2-3-4-1-2-3-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4
LH (2 oct)	5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3-2-1
Relative Minor	D minor
Contrary Motion	RH thumb, LH finger 5 start on F, move outward

F#/Gb Major


Key Signature	6 sharps (F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E#) / 6 flats
Notes	F# - G# - A# - B - C# - D# - E# - F#
RH (2 oct)	2-3-4-1-2-3-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-1-2
LH (2 oct)	4-3-2-1-3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3-2-1-4
Relative Minor	D#/Eb minor

G Major


Key Signature	1 sharp (F#)
Notes	G - A - B - C - D - E - F# - G
RH (2 oct)	1-2-3-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5
LH (2 oct)	5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3-2-1
Relative Minor	E minor
Contrary Motion	Both thumbs start on G, move outward

Ab Major


Key Signature	4 flats (Bb, Eb, Ab, Db)
Notes	Ab - Bb - C - Db - Eb - F - G - Ab
RH (2 oct)	3-4-1-2-3-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-1-2-3
LH (2 oct)	3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3
Relative Minor	F minor

A Major


Key Signature	3 sharps (F#, C#, G#)
Notes	A - B - C# - D - E - F# - G# - A
RH (2 oct)	1-2-3-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5
LH (2 oct)	5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3-2-1
Relative Minor	F# minor

Bb Major


Key Signature	2 flats (Bb, Eb)
Notes	Bb - C - D - Eb - F - G - A - Bb
RH (2 oct)	4-1-2-3-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-1-2-3-4
LH (2 oct)	3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3
Relative Minor	G minor

B Major


Key Signature	5 sharps (F#, C#, G#, D#, A#)
Notes	B - C# - D# - E - F# - G# - A# - B
RH (2 oct)	1-2-3-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5
LH (2 oct)	4-3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3-2-1-4-3-2-1
Relative Minor	G# minor

All 12 Natural Minor Scales (2 Octaves)

A Natural Minor


Key Signature	No sharps or flats
Notes	A - B - C - D - E - F - G - A
RH (2 oct)	1-2-3-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5
LH (2 oct)	5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3-2-1
Relative Major	C major

Bb Minor


Key Signature	5 flats (Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb)
Notes	Bb - C - Db - Eb - F - Gb - Ab - Bb
RH (2 oct)	4-1-2-3-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-1-2-3-4
LH (2 oct)	2-1-3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3-2-1-4-3-2
Relative Major	Db major

B Natural Minor


Key Signature	2 sharps (F#, C#)
Notes	B - C# - D - E - F# - G - A - B
RH (2 oct)	1-2-3-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5
LH (2 oct)	4-3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3-2-1-4-3-2-1
Relative Major	D major

C Natural Minor


Key Signature	3 flats (Bb, Eb, Ab)
Notes	C - D - Eb - F - G - Ab - Bb - C
RH (2 oct)	1-2-3-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5
LH (2 oct)	5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3-2-1
Relative Major	Eb major

C# Natural Minor


Key Signature	4 sharps (F#, C#, G#, D#)
Notes	C# - D# - E - F# - G# - A - B - C#
RH (2 oct)	3-4-1-2-3-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-1-2-3
LH (2 oct)	3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3
Relative Major	E major

D Natural Minor


Key Signature	1 flat (Bb)
Notes	D - E - F - G - A - Bb - C - D
RH (2 oct)	1-2-3-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5
LH (2 oct)	5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3-2-1
Relative Major	F major

Eb Natural Minor


Key Signature	6 flats (Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb)
Notes	Eb - F - Gb - Ab - Bb - Cb - Db - Eb
RH (2 oct)	3-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-1-2-3-4-1-2-3
LH (2 oct)	2-1-4-3-2-1-3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3-2
Relative Major	Gb major

E Natural Minor


Key Signature	1 sharp (F#)
Notes	E - F# - G - A - B - C - D - E
RH (2 oct)	1-2-3-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5
LH (2 oct)	5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3-2-1
Relative Major	G major

F Natural Minor


Key Signature	4 flats (Bb, Eb, Ab, Db)
Notes	F - G - Ab - Bb - C - Db - Eb - F
RH (2 oct)	1-2-3-4-1-2-3-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4
LH (2 oct)	5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3-2-1
Relative Major	Ab major

F# Natural Minor


Key Signature	3 sharps (F#, C#, G#)
Notes	F# - G# - A - B - C# - D - E - F#
RH (2 oct)	2-3-1-2-3-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-1-2-3
LH (2 oct)	4-3-2-1-3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3-2-1-4
Relative Major	A major

G Natural Minor


Key Signature	2 flats (Bb, Eb)
Notes	G - A - Bb - C - D - Eb - F - G
RH (2 oct)	1-2-3-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5
LH (2 oct)	5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3-2-1
Relative Major	Bb major

G# Natural Minor


Key Signature	5 sharps (F#, C#, G#, D#, A#)
Notes	G# - A# - B - C# - D# - E - F# - G#
RH (2 oct)	3-4-1-2-3-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-1-2-3
LH (2 oct)	3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3
Relative Major	B major

Harmonic Minor Scales (A, D, E, G)

What makes it “harmonic”? Raise the 7th note by one half step. This creates the distinctive “exotic” sound and a leading tone that pulls strongly to the tonic.

A Harmonic Minor


Key Signature	No sharps or flats (but G is always raised to G#)
Notes	A - B - C - D - E - F - G#* - A
Raised 7th	G becomes G#
RH (2 oct)	1-2-3-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5
LH (2 oct)	5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3-2-1
Sound	The augmented 2nd between F and G# gives the “Spanish/Middle Eastern” flavour

D Harmonic Minor


Key Signature	1 flat (Bb) (but C is always raised to C#)
Notes	D - E - F - G - A - Bb - C#* - D
Raised 7th	C becomes C#
RH (2 oct)	1-2-3-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5
LH (2 oct)	5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3-2-1
Sound	Augmented 2nd between Bb and C# creates dramatic tension

E Harmonic Minor


Key Signature	1 sharp (F#) (but D is always raised to D#)
Notes	E - F# - G - A - B - C - D#* - E
Raised 7th	D becomes D#
RH (2 oct)	1-2-3-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5
LH (2 oct)	5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3-2-1
Sound	Augmented 2nd between C and D#

G Harmonic Minor


Key Signature	2 flats (Bb, Eb) (but F is always raised to F#)
Notes	G - A - Bb - C - D - Eb - F#* - G
Raised 7th	F becomes F#
RH (2 oct)	1-2-3-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5
LH (2 oct)	5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3-2-1
Sound	Augmented 2nd between Eb and F#

Melodic Minor Scales (A, D, E, G)

What makes it “melodic”? Ascending: raise both the 6th and 7th degrees. Descending: play the natural minor (lower them back). This smooths out the awkward augmented 2nd of the harmonic minor.

A Melodic Minor


Ascending Notes	A - B - C - D - E - F#* - G#* - A
Descending Notes	A - G - F - E - D - C - B - A (= natural minor)
Raised Degrees	6th: F becomes F# / 7th: G becomes G# (ascending only)
RH (2 oct, ascending)	1-2-3-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5
LH (2 oct, ascending)	5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3-2-1
Descending	Use natural minor fingering (same as A natural minor, reversed)

D Melodic Minor


Ascending Notes	D - E - F - G - A - B* - C#* - D
Descending Notes	D - C - Bb - A - G - F - E - D (= natural minor)
Raised Degrees	6th: Bb becomes B / 7th: C becomes C# (ascending only)
RH (2 oct, ascending)	1-2-3-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5
LH (2 oct, ascending)	5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3-2-1
Descending	Use D natural minor fingering (reversed)

E Melodic Minor


Ascending Notes	E - F# - G - A - B - C#* - D#* - E
Descending Notes	E - D - C - B - A - G - F# - E (= natural minor)
Raised Degrees	6th: C becomes C# / 7th: D becomes D# (ascending only)
RH (2 oct, ascending)	1-2-3-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5
LH (2 oct, ascending)	5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3-2-1
Descending	Use E natural minor fingering (reversed)

G Melodic Minor


Ascending Notes	G - A - Bb - C - D - E* - F#* - G
Descending Notes	G - F - Eb - D - C - Bb - A - G (= natural minor)
Raised Degrees	6th: Eb becomes E / 7th: F becomes F# (ascending only)
RH (2 oct, ascending)	1-2-3-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5
LH (2 oct, ascending)	5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3-2-1
Descending	Use G natural minor fingering (reversed)

Circle of Fifths

Move clockwise = add one sharp. Move anti-clockwise = add one flat. Each key’s relative minor is shown in parentheses.

                    C (Am)
                 0#/0b

        F (Dm)              G (Em)
         1b                   1#

    Bb (Gm)                      D (Bm)
      2b                           2#

   Eb (Cm)                          A (F#m)
     3b                               3#

    Ab (Fm)                          E (C#m)
      4b                               4#

       Db (Bbm)              B (G#m)
          5b                    5#

              Gb/F# (Ebm/D#m)
                   6b/6#

Quick Lookup: Key Signatures

Key	Sharps/Flats	Accidentals
C major / A minor	0	—
G major / E minor	1#	F#
D major / B minor	2#	F#, C#
A major / F# minor	3#	F#, C#, G#
E major / C# minor	4#	F#, C#, G#, D#
B major / G# minor	5#	F#, C#, G#, D#, A#
F#/Gb major	6#/6b	F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E#
F major / D minor	1b	Bb
Bb major / G minor	2b	Bb, Eb
Eb major / C minor	3b	Bb, Eb, Ab
Ab major / F minor	4b	Bb, Eb, Ab, Db
Db major / Bb minor	5b	Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb

Order of sharps: F - C - G - D - A - E - B (Fat Cats Go Down Alleys Eating Birds)

Order of flats: B - E - A - D - G - C - F (BEAD Goes Crazy Fast — or reverse the sharps)

Three Minor Types — Side-by-Side Comparison

Type	Formula (from natural minor)	Character	When Used
Natural Minor	No alterations	Sad, folk-like, modal	Folk songs, simple melodies, modal pieces
Harmonic Minor	Raise 7th	Exotic, dramatic, strong pull to tonic	Classical harmony, V-i cadences, Middle Eastern feel
Melodic Minor	Raise 6th + 7th ascending; natural descending	Smooth, lyrical	Classical melodies (avoids augmented 2nd), jazz (ascending form used both ways)

Example in A Minor

Type	Notes
A Natural Minor	A - B - C - D - E - F - G - A
A Harmonic Minor	A - B - C - D - E - F - G# - A
A Melodic Minor (up)	A - B - C - D - E - F# - G# - A
A Melodic Minor (down)	A - G - F - E - D - C - B - A

Contrary Motion Fingering Notes

In contrary motion, both hands start on the same note and move in opposite directions.

Scale	Starting Note	Notes
C Major	C	Thumbs cross together — feels natural
G Major	G	Thumbs cross together
D Major	D	Thumbs cross together
F Major	F	RH thumb, LH finger 5 — thumbs do NOT cross together
A Minor	A	Thumbs cross together

Tip: For scales where both hands use 1-2-3-1-2-3-4 fingering (C, G, D, A, E, B major), contrary motion is easiest because the thumbs always cross at the same time.

Scale Practice Tempo Targets

Level	Tempo	When
Learning	50-60 BPM (quarter notes)	First week with a new scale
Comfortable	60-80 BPM	Can play without stopping
Fluent	80-100 BPM	Target for major scales by course end
Harmonic/Melodic Minor	60-80 BPM	Target by course end

Complete Scale Reference — Intermediate Course Pin next to your keyboard for instant lookup