The C major scale is the natural starting point for any piano student. It consists of the notes C D E F G A B C and uses only the white keys, with zero sharps or flats. This makes it the only major scale that can be played entirely on white keys, and its simplicity makes it the ideal scale for beginners. The standard right-hand fingering for one octave ascending is 1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5, where the thumb passes under after the third finger plays E. This same fingering pattern is reused for several other major scales that begin on white keys.
From C major, the sharp keys ascend in a predictable pattern. G major adds one sharp (F♯) and uses the notes G A B C D E F♯ G. D major contains two sharps (F♯ and C♯) with the notes D E F♯ G A B C♯ D. A major has three sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯) spelled A B C♯ D E F♯ G♯ A. E major adds a fourth sharp (D♯), giving E F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D♯ E. B major is the most extended sharp-only white-key scale with five sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯), spelled B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A♯ B; here the thumb crosses under on E, a white key. All of these scales share the right-hand fingering 1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5.
The flat-side major keys require different fingering patterns because the thumb must accommodate the placement of the flat notes. F major has one flat (B♭) with the notes F G A B♭ C D E F, and uses the fingering 1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4, with the thumb crossing under after finger 4 on B♭. B♭ major has two flats (B♭, E♭) with notes B♭ C D E♭ F G A B♭, and begins with finger 4 on B♭ using the fingering 4-1-2-3-1-2-3-4. E♭ major adds a third flat (A♭) with notes E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C D E♭, played 3-1-2-3-4-1-2-3. A♭ major has four flats including D♭, spelled A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭ F G A♭, with fingering 3-4-1-2-3-1-2-3. D♭ major rounds out the flat keys with five flats (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭), played 2-3-1-2-3-4-1-2.
F♯ major sits at the extreme of the sharp side with six sharps (F♯, G♯, A♯, C♯, D♯, E♯), spelled F♯ G♯ A♯ B C♯ D♯ E♯ F♯. Its enharmonic equivalent is G♭ major with six flats, meaning the two scales sound identical but are written differently. Underlying all of these scales is a single interval pattern: W-W-H-W-W-W-H, where W represents a whole step and H a half step. Memorizing this formula allows any pianist to construct a major scale starting from any root note.