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Nov 1, 2023

Level 1 Scales

Updated: Nov 22, 2023

This is a book to learn patterns, shapes used in scales on the piano. It is not a book for note reading. The notation is for those who like to use it and the names are in the note heads for those who cannot read it yet but wish to try.




In the book the scales and triads are covered for the following keys


Each key has a one octave scale in the left hand and right hand. A notation page, the tonic triad in both hands and three recommended listening pieces. On the seventh note of each scale is a mandala. Colour a new section every time you play the scale correctly.


If you start the scales with everything flat, each scales raises one note a semitone, the seventh one. When you have raised every note a semitone, from a flat to a natural, the process is repeated when moving from a natural to a sharp.


The names flat, natural and sharp are the names we have given to these three positions of a note pitch. The flat sound is considered to be slightly lower than the normal pitch and is on the left hand side of the main note on the piano. The sharp slightly higher and is on the right hand side of the main note on the piano. I often teach it that we move from position 1 (all flats) to position 2 (all naturals) then to position 3 (all sharps). I find this is so much easier to understand.


This is an example that you will find in the book for every key shown on the above circles. The dark numbers are the starting pitch and the light numbers are the pitches previously raised.

One of the biggest errors I made before I started working through the advanced qualifications was to ignore bibliographies. They save you so much work searching for items as the author has done it for you.


The pieces in this bibliography are all from IMSLP.org or the Petrucci Music Library. This is an excellent site for public domain sheet music downloads and recordings you can stream without adverts, although their may be a slight wait.


They are piano pieces, with a few exceptions which have piano arrangements. Some are elementary grades and, for a new pianist, playable in a few years. Some may take longer and are in the intermediate or advanced pianist. There are three selections for each key.


The Triquetrae Music Student Listening Journal is recommended for recording thoughts about a twelve pieces.


The recordings and music can be downloaded from the following links and at the bottom of this blog is a Spotify playlist.


Bibliography























Spotify Playlist



Chris Caton-Greasley LLCM(TD) MA (Mus)(Open)

Ethnographic Musicologist, Teacher, Researcher

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