Piano Scales, Cadences, & Arpeggios

C major scale

C D E F G A B C

C major scale contrary motion

left descending, right ascending

C major scale parallel motion in 3rds or 10ths

left starts 5th finger on C; right starts 3rd finger on E

C major scale parallel motion in 6ths

left starts 3rd finger on E; right starts 1st finger on C

C major triads (root position and primary)

I through I; I IV V or V7

C major cadences (all positions)

I IV I V or V7 I

C major arpeggios (two octaves)

root position, 1st inversion, 2nd inversion

C major dominant 7th arpeggios (two octaves)

root position, 1st inversion, 2nd inversion, 3rd inversion

G major scale

G A B C D E F# G

G major scale contrary motion

left descending, right ascending

G major scale parallel motion in 3rds or 10ths

left starts 5th finger on G; right starts 3rd finger on B

G major scale parallel motion in 6ths

left starts 3rd finger on B, right starts 1st finger on G

G major triads (root position and primary)

I through I; I IV V or V7

G major cadences (all positions)

I IV I V or V7 I

G major arpeggios (two octaves)

root position, 1st inversion, 2nd inversion

G major dominant 7th arpeggios (two octaves)

root position, 1st inversion, 2nd inversion, 3rd inversion

D major scale

D E F# G A B C# D

D major scale contrary motion

left descending, right ascending

D major scale parallel motion in 3rds or 10ths

left starts 5th finger on D; right starts 3rd finger on F#

D major scale parallel motion in 6ths

left starts 5th finger on F#; right starts 3rd finger on D

D major triads (root position and primary)

I through I; I IV V or V7

D major cadences (all positions)

I IV I V or V7 I

D major arpeggios (two octaves)

root position, 1st inversion, 2nd inversion

D major dominant 7th arpeggios (two octaves)

root position, 1st inversion, 2nd inversion, 3rd inversion

A major scale

A B C# D E F# G# A

A major scale contrary motion

left descending, right ascending

A major scale in 3rds or 10ths

left starts 5th finger on A; right starts 3rd finger on C#

A major scale in 6ths

left starts 3rd finger on C#; right starts 1st finger on A

A major scale triads (root position and primary)

I through I; I IV V or V7

A major scale cadences

I IV I V or V7 I

A major scale arpeggios

root position, 1st inversion, 2nd inversion

A major dominant 7th arpeggios

root position, 1st inversion, 2nd inversion, 3rd inversion

E major scale

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

E major scale contrary motion

left descending, right ascending

E major scale in 3rds or 10ths

left starts 5th finger on E; right starts 3rd finger on G#

E major scale in 6ths

left starts 3rd finger on G#; right starts 1st finger on E

E major triads

I through I; I IV V or V7

E major cadences

I IV I V or V7 I

E major arpeggios

root position, 1st inversion, 2nd inversion

E major dominant 7th arpeggios

root position, 1st inversion, 2nd inversion, 3rd inversion

B major scale

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

B major scale contrary motion

left descending, right ascending

B major scale in 3rds or 10ths

left starts 4th finger on B; right starts 3rd finger on D#

B major scale in 6ths

left starts 2nd finger on D#; right starts 1st finger on B

B major scale triads (root position and primary)

I through I; I IV V or V7

B major scale arpeggios

root position, 1st inversion, 2nd inversion

B major dominant 7th arpeggios

root position, 1st inversion, 2nd inversion, 3rd inversion