See the notes, compare the two hand references, and practice one octave at a time.
C – D – E – F – G – A – B – C
Direction: Ascending · C4 → C5 · Semitone movement: 2 – 2 – 1 – 2 – 2 – 2 – 1
| Notes | C4 | D4 | E4 | F4 | G4 | A4 | B4 | C5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fingers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Source-documented one-octave row.
Finger numbers identify fingers, not scale degrees. Only one-octave, separately checked rows are shown.
Select every note used in C Major, ascending. This question checks the note set; octave and order do not matter.
Chosen: None
Attempt open · unassisted
C - D - E - F - G - A - B. Octave and order are not scored in this question.
C4 - D4 - E4 - F4 - G4 - A4 - B4 - C5
This guide does not listen to your piano. Completion is self-reported. The staff is a pitch reference; the pulse controls timing.
Practice tempo: 60 BPM · 1 octave · Right hand · C4-C5 · 4-beat count-in
This guide does not listen to your piano. Completion is self-reported.
PianoGrid
Key signature: No sharps or flats
C – D – E – F – G – A – B – C
Direction: Ascending · C4 → C5 · Semitone movement: 2 – 2 – 1 – 2 – 2 – 2 – 1
| Notes | C4 | D4 | E4 | F4 | G4 | A4 | B4 | C5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fingers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Source-documented one-octave row.
One-octave reference. Finger numbers appear only for the hand and direction combinations covered by the sources listed above.
C Major contains C, D, E, F, G, A, B. Repeat C at the top to complete one octave. Its key signature has no sharps or flats.
C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C
Use the keyboard and staff below to follow the octave. Select one hand and direction at a time.
In this one-octave version, the right hand crosses from E with finger 3 to F with the thumb. The left hand crosses from G with the thumb to A with finger 3. Read the separate descending row when coming back. Finger numbers identify the fingers, not the scale degrees.
Read each finger with the note above it. These are one-octave references; the ending fingers do not describe how to connect a second octave.
The right-hand C4–C5 and left-hand C3–C4 ranges are shown separately. These display registers do not prescribe where every learner must practice.
On a narrow screen, scroll this table horizontally to read every column.
| Hand and direction | Notes in playing order | Fingers |
|---|---|---|
| Right hand, ascending | C4-D4-E4-F4-G4-A4-B4-C5 | 1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5 |
| Right hand, descending | C5-B4-A4-G4-F4-E4-D4-C4 | 5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1 |
| Left hand, ascending | C3-D3-E3-F3-G3-A3-B3-C4 | 5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1 |
| Left hand, descending | C4-B3-A3-G3-F3-E3-D3-C3 | 1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5 |
C major uses only white keys, but those keys are not equally spaced in pitch. E–F and B–C are half steps; the other adjacent pairs in the scale are whole steps. Keep that distinction when checking the keyboard against the staff. A reference starting and ending on C demonstrates the C-major scale. Starting a melody on another note does not by itself determine a different tonic.
C-D 2 · D-E 2 · E-F 1 · F-G 2 · G-A 2 · A-B 2 · B-C 1 semitones
Scale degrees and finger numbers describe different things. F is scale degree 4, but the right hand uses finger 1 on F in this ascending one-octave reference.
Suggested drill: play C–D–E, pause, then continue F–G–A–B–C with the printed right-hand fingers. Next, connect E–F without the pause. With the left hand, isolate G–A instead. Finish with one unhurried ascent and descent, saying each note name.
Use the web exercises to select C major’s notes or enter C4 through C5 in ascending order. They check the answer entered on this page.
For follow-along practice, choose a comfortable pulse. The default is 60 BPM, one note per beat and four count-in beats. Pause or stop as needed; completion is self-reported.
Print the selected hand and direction, or use the C-major section of C Major & A Minor - One-Octave Piano Reference. Each printed reference includes its range and source notes. Do not extend one-octave fingering by repeating the ending pattern.
Each degree of C major has a name, and stacking every other note from that degree gives the triad built on it. Roman numerals use capitals for major triads, lower case for minor and ° for diminished.
A minor is the relative minor of C major. Both keys use the same notes and key signature, but the minor key starts on degree 6.
C major uses only white keys.
On a narrow screen, scroll this table horizontally to read every column.
| Degree | Note | Degree name | Triad | Triad notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | Tonic | I · C major | C – E – G |
| 2 | D | Supertonic | ii · D minor | D – F – A |
| 3 | E | Mediant | iii · E minor | E – G – B |
| 4 | F | Subdominant | IV · F major | F – A – C |
| 5 | G | Dominant | V · G major | G – B – D |
| 6 | A | Submediant | vi · A minor | A – C – E |
| 7 | B | Leading tone | vii° · B diminished | B – D – F |
Adding a seventh to the dominant triad gives V7, the dominant seventh of C major. G7: G – B – D – F.
A half step is the distance between adjacent piano keys. E and F are adjacent keys, as are B and C. White-key color alone does not tell you whether the next scale step is whole or half.
Select the hand whose reference you want to read. The numbers and labeled range change with it. This setting does not detect which hand you use on a real piano.
No two-octave fingering is supplied. A one-octave ending is not automatically the correct connection into another octave. Use an explicitly matched two-octave source before extending it.
No. The C-major triad uses C, E and G. The scale uses seven different notes. The chord is one useful selection from the scale, not a replacement for it.
References for the notes, patterns and examples on this page.
C major seven-note spelling; key signature accidental count
C major one-octave note spelling and fingering for both hands, ascending and descending.
A second reference for C major one-octave fingering for both hands and directions.
Major-scale W–W–H–W–W–W–H rule; ascending/descending scale definition; half step is adjacent keyboard pitches; tonic repeated at octave
Pitch step, alter, octave; C4 convention; key signature fifths positive/negative
Official public entry for the Standard MIDI Files specification
One-octave C major fingering and the role of finger numbers.