Music Scales Exploration on Keyboard
Discover major and minor scales on a keyboard — hear how major sounds happy and minor sounds sad, and understand the building blocks of all melodies.
What You'll Need
- 1Keyboard, piano, or piano app on tablet
- 2Optional: scale diagram showing which keys to play
What You'll Need
A keyboard, piano, or free piano app on a tablet
Optional: a printed scale diagram showing which keys to play
How to Play
Sit at a keyboard. Find middle C — it's the white key just to the left of the group of two black keys in the middle.
Play the C major scale: all white keys ascending from C to C. C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C. That bright, hopeful, "do-re-mi" sound is the major scale.
Now play C natural minor: C-D-Eb-F-G-Ab-Bb-C. You'll use some black keys this time (Eb, Ab, Bb). Hear how the mood shifts? It's sadder, more mysterious.
Play them back to back. Major: happy, bright, resolved. Minor: moody, emotional, tense. The difference between them is just three notes.
Try a simple melody (like "Mary Had a Little Lamb") in major, then shift it to minor. Same rhythm, completely different feeling.
Explore the pentatonic scale: play only C-D-E-G-A (skip F and B). These five notes are magical — anything you play using just these sounds good.
Improvise a melody using only pentatonic notes. Seriously, play randomly among those five keys. It always sounds musical.
Tips
The major vs. minor distinction is one of the most fundamental concepts in all of Western music. Once your child hears it, they'll start identifying it in every song.
The pentatonic scale is used in music worldwide — from Chinese classical to blues to rock solos. It's a universal musical language.
Encourage free experimentation on the pentatonic notes. The inability to play a "wrong" note is incredibly freeing and builds confidence.
Ask: "Is your favorite song in major or minor?" Listen together and figure it out. This applies the concept to music they already love.
This is the foundation for understanding how all music works. Scales are the alphabet; melodies and chords are the words and sentences.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does this activity take?
This activity takes about 20 min, with 0 min of preparation time beforehand.
What materials do I need?
You'll need: keyboard, piano, or piano app on tablet, optional: scale diagram showing which keys to play.
What age is this activity for?
This activity is designed for 8-12 years. You can adapt it for younger or older children by adjusting the complexity.
Can this be done indoors?
This activity is designed for indoor play, making it perfect for rainy days or when you're staying inside.
How difficult is this activity?
This activity has a moderate difficulty level. It may require some preparation or guidance, but is manageable for most families.
Ratings & Reviews
Sign in to leave a rating or review.
Add to Your Weekly Plan
Schedule this activity into your family's week. It takes about 20 min.
Free account required to save plans
Explore More
Love this activity?
Create a free account and add it to your weekly planner. Discover hundreds more activities matched to your child's age.