There are two types of piano scales:Major Scale and Minor Scale.
There are 12 major scales; and each one has its relative minor scale (also called the natural minor scale). Beside the 12 natural minor scales, there are also 12 harmonic minor scales and 12 melodic minor scales. Sounds too much? Don't be overwhelmed! Let's take a look at each type of scales.
C Major Scale
We can form a major scale using a simple formula:
whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half
*A half step is the closest key to any key. C to B is a half step down. C to C# is a half step up.
*A whole step is two half steps. C to D is a whole step up. D is also two half steps up from C.
Let's say we want to form the C major scale, we can plug in this formula
D (D is a whole step from C)
E (E is a whole step from D)
F (F is an half step from E)
G (G is a whole step from F)
A (A is a whole step from G)
B (B is a whole step from A)
C (C is an half step from B)
Always ask yourself what is a whole step from the note you want to form a piano scale. Asking questions based on the formula (whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half).
Remember there are 8 notes in a scale. You may also remember the scale notes by using Roman numerals.