Lesson One – Note Names and Scales

Learn the names of the keys on the piano. Note where each white key is placed in relation to
the black keys (black keys are in groups of two and three).

C D E F G A B C D E F G A B

Each black key has two names – sharp name (#) and a flat name (b). When a note is sharped,
one plays the next higher key. When a note is flatted, one plays the next lower key (up is to the right on
the piano, and down is to the left).

C# D# F# G# A#
or or or or or
# - Sharp (go up)
Db Eb Gb Ab Bb
b- Flat (go down)

C D E F G A B

Exercise 1
Write the names of the white keys on the keyboard below. Then, write both the sharp and flat
name for each black key above the keys.
Exercise 2
Write the names of the keys marked with an X. For the black keys, give the flat (b) name.

X X X X X

X X X X X X X

Exercise 3
Write the names of the keys marked with an X. For the black keys, give the sharp (#) name.

X X X X X

X X X X X X X

Exercise 4
To help you learn the names of the keys, play the following:

1. All the C’s on the piano 6. All the G’s 11. All the C#’s
2. All the F’s 7. All the A’s 12. All the Ab’s
3. All the E’s 8. All the Bb’s 13. All the Gb’s
4. All the B’s 9. All the F#’s 14. All the D#’s
5. All the D’s 10. All the Eb’s 15. All the Db’s

Hand Position and Finger Numbers

The proper hand position is for fingers to be curved, playing on the tips (thumbs play on the
side). Imagine that you are holding a ball in each hand. The wrist and arm should be level.
Fingers are numbered as follows: thumb is the first finger, and the rest are numbered in order
to the little finger (pinky) with is the fifth finger.
Half Steps and Whole Steps
The distance from one key to another is called an interval. There are two musical intervals that
are often referred to in this book. They are half steps and whole steps. A half step is the closest
distance from one key to another. A whole step skips a key. Study these half steps and whole steps.
whole step half step whole step half step

Db Eb Ab Bb D#

E F G A B C E

half step whole step

Exercise 5 – State whether the following is a half step (H) or a whole step (W).

1. C to D _____ E to F _____ B to C _____ G to A _____

2. F to G _____ D to E _____ A to Bb_____ Db to Eb _____

3. C# to D _____ Eb to F _____ F# to G _____ A to B _____

What is a Scale?
A scale is a series of notes that follows a pattern. There are many kinds of scales that have
been used in different time periods and in different countries. This is why we can date music or say
that a song has a certain ethnic sound.
Most of our gospel music is based upon the major scale. Therefore, it is very important to
know what a major scale is, how it is built and how to use it as a foundation for our music.
The Major Scale Pattern
Major scales are built using a certain pattern of half steps and whole steps. The pattern is:

W W H W W W H

A major scale can be built starting on any key using this pattern. Letter names are using in
alphabetical order (sharps or flats are added as needed to keep the pattern).
Notice how the major scale pattern of half steps and whole steps is used to build the C major
scale (the scale is named for its starting note):

C D E F G A B C

W W H W W W H

Exercise 6
Build the F and G scales using the major scale pattern of half steps and whole steps. You will be
using one black key in each scale. When deciding whether to use the sharp name or the flat name for
the black key, be sure to keep your scale in alphabetical order.

F scale -- _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____

G scale -- _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____

Exercise 7
Play these scales using the fingering provided. Correct fingering is given for the right hand only.
Notice that the F scale uses a different fingering than the C and G scales.

C scale - C D E F G A B C
(fingering) 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5

F scale - F G A Bb C D E F
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

G scale - G A B C D E F# G
1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5
Introduction to Finger Strengthening Exercises
Throughout this series of lessons, you will be given finger strengthening exercises to practice
each day. It is very important that you play these exercises often to allow your fingers to develop
strength and control.
Each exercise will follow a general pattern identified by finger numbers. You will play the
pattern beginning on C, then D, then E, etc. Play the pattern with your right hand, then your left, then
with both hands together if you are able.

Finger Strengthening Exercise One

Pattern #1, Right hand:

1 2 3 4 | 5 4 3 2 | 1 5 | 1

Pattern #1, Left hand:

5 4 3 2 | 1 2 3 4 | 5 1 | 5

Review of Lesson One

1. Each black key has two names – a ______________ name and a ______________ name.
2. When a note is sharped, one plays the next ______________ key. When a note is flatted, one
plays the next ______________ key.
3. The proper hand position is for fingers to be ______________, playing on the ______________.
The wrist and arm should be ______________.
4. A ______________ ______________ is the closest distance from one key to another.
5. A ______________ ______________ skips a key.
6. A ______________ is a series of notes that follows a pattern.
7. Most of our music is based on the ______________ scale.
8. The major scale is ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ .
9. The scale is named for its ______________ ______________.
10. The notes of the C scale are____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____.
11. The notes of the F scale are ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____.
12. The notes of the G scale are ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____.
Introduction to Ear Training Exercises
An Ear Training exercise will conclude each lesson. The purpose of ear training is to teach the
pianist to identify what he/she hears. The exercises should be repeated many times to reinforce
lessons.

Lesson One Ear Training Exercises

Identifying Unisons, Half Steps, and Whole Steps

An interval is the distance from one note to another measured in half steps. Each interval has
a name and a distinct sound which the hearer can train himself to identify. An interval can be played in
two ways: as a harmonic interval (both notes played or sung together, in harmony) or as a melodic
interval (one note played after the other, like a melody). In the exercises in these series of lessons we
will be listening and identifying melodic intervals. Learning to identify intervals is very beneficial in
order to be able to pick out chords and melodies by ear. In order to identify musical intervals, we must
compare the unknown interval with those we know.

Unisons
A unison is simply the same note played twice. If two singers are singing in unison, then they
are both singing the same note. Unisons are very easy to identify by ear.

Half Steps
A half step is also called a minor second. It is the closest distance from one note to another.
Play the following examples of half steps (in each example we will start on a note and go to a higher
note, then back down).

C-Db-C F-Gb-F B-C-B

D#-E-D# C#-D-C# E-F-E

Whole Steps
A whole step is the distance of two half steps. It is also called a major second. It is easily
recognized by comparing it to the first few notes of Happy Birthday. Play the following examples of a
whole step. See if you can hear Happy Birthday as you are playing these intervals.

C-D-C F-G-F Bb-C-Bb

E-F#-E Db-Eb-Db A-B-A

Ear Training Listening Exercise 1
Do the following exercise identifying unisons, half steps, and whole steps by ear. Put a “U” for
unison, an “H” for half step, or a “W” for whole step. Melodic intervals are used.

1. _____ 6. _____ 11. _____ 16. _____

2. _____ 7. _____ 12. _____ 17. _____

3. _____ 8. _____ 13. _____ 18. _____

4. _____ 9. _____ 14. _____ 19. _____

5. _____ 10. _____ 15. _____ 20. _____

Ear Training Written Exercise 1

Do the following written practice identifying unisons (U), half steps (H), and whole steps (W).

C-D E-F D-Eb F-F G-A B-C E-F#

_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____

D-E Gb-Ab F#-G C#-D Bb-C C-C Eb-F

_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____

G#-A A-Bb E-E G#-A# F-G C-Db D-D

_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____