Piano Scale Exercise Using Thirds (D Major)
To play the D major scale in thirds on piano, pair each scale note with the note a third above it, then move that upper third down an octave so the original scale note stays on top as the melody.
Key points
- The upper third of a scale note is two scale notes above it, e.g. D to F# and E to G in D major.
- Play each upper third an octave below the melody note so the scale stays on top as the tune.
- Avoid using the thumb on black keys: use the index finger for black keys and the thumb for white keys.
- For a fuller sound, also add the root an octave lower, e.g. low D, F#, then the top D.
- Practise in different scales, tempos and patterns such as groups of three.
This lesson from Jason Zac at Nathaniel School of Music shows how to practise the D major scale in thirds. It is aimed at pianists who can already play a major scale and want a fuller, richer sound. Jason Zac uses thirds often in his own performances and recordings. They add colour and help a melody stand out in the mix.
What a third is
Start with the seven notes of D major: D, E, F#, G, A, B, C#. To find the upper third of any scale note, count up two scale notes from it.
- D has F# as its upper third
- E has G
- F# has A
- G has B
- A has C#
- B has D
- C# has E
Why the third goes an octave below
If you simply played each upper third above the scale note, the third would become the highest sound. In most music the listener hears the highest note as the melody, so the third would take over the tune.
To avoid this, play each upper third an octave lower, underneath the scale note. The scale stays on top as the melody, and the lower note adds harmony beneath it. For example, play the top D with an F# below it, then the E with a G below it, and so on.
The exercise, step by step
- Choose your starting D, which will be the melody note.
- Find its upper third, F#, and play it an octave lower, beneath the D.
- Play both notes together.
- Move to E and play G below it in the same way.
- Continue through the whole scale, ascending and then descending.
Play it slowly at first so you can hear each pair clearly and check that the melody stays on top.
Fingering tip: keep your thumb off the black keys
Many of the pairs in D major include black keys, such as F# and C#. Try to avoid using your thumb on them. Putting the thumb on a black key tends to bend the wrist and pull the hand closer to the keyboard, which is uncomfortable and inefficient.
Instead:
- Use your index finger for the black keys.
- Use your thumb only when it lands on a white key.
Making it fuller: add the lower octave
Once the basic version feels comfortable, add the root an octave lower as well. Starting on D, you get three notes:
- a low D, the root an octave down
- the F# that you brought down from above
- the top D, which is the melody
Work through the scale the same way. Each step gets a deeper, richer sound.
How to practise it
- Go up and down the scale until the shapes and fingering feel natural.
- Try the same idea on different scales, not just D major.
- Vary your speed, from slow and careful to faster tempos.
- When straight ascending and descending lines feel easy, explore patterns, such as moving through the scale in groups of three.
Whatever pattern you choose, pick something that sounds good and pushes you as a player. Practised regularly, this drill builds finger control, flexibility and independence.
Questions about this lesson
Why play the third below the melody instead of above it?
Listeners usually hear the highest note as the melody. Moving the upper third down an octave keeps the original scale note on top, so the third adds harmony without taking over the tune.
What are the thirds in the D major scale?
D pairs with F#, E with G, F# with A, G with B, A with C#, B with D, and C# with E.
Should I use my thumb on the black keys?
It is best to avoid it, because the thumb on a black key bends the wrist and pulls the hand towards the keyboard. Use your index finger on black keys and save the thumb for white keys.
How can I make this exercise harder once I've learned it?
Add the root an octave lower for a fuller three-note sound, and play the exercise at different tempos and in other scales. You can also play it in patterns, such as groups of three, instead of straight up and down.
Practise it
- Two NotesA guided field guide to intervals: consonance, inversions, scales, modes and the Circle of Fifths.
- Solfa StudioPractise scales, solfège and swaras with visual and musical context.
- Piano classes at Nathaniel School of MusicLive online or in Bangalore, with a teacher.
- All free music apps40 practice tools for harmony, rhythm, ear training and more.
Related lessons
- Inspire Yourself With the Major Scale: A Musical Way to Practise Piano ScalesInstead of repeating the top or bottom note, play the scale up and down in 16-note cycles, adding the seventh below the root the first time and the ninth above the octave the second time, then support it with tonic, predominant and dominant chords in the left hand.
- How to Creatively Practise Thirds Over Piano ScalesTo practise thirds over a piano scale, write the scale in a circle, pair each note with the scale note two steps above it (E with G#, F# with A, and so on in E major), then play those pairs up, down, or in mixed directions to build both technique and melody.
- Explore the Y-Axis of Music With All Intervals and Scales Using a Simple Chord ProgressionThe pendulum scale drill trains you to move both above and below the root (one, two, three and four steps each way from F), then harmonise the right-hand pattern with a left-hand tonic, predominant and dominant chord in major, minor and modal scales.
- The Scale Practice Routine Pianists Skip: Parallel, Contrary and Similar MotionA complete piano scale workout plays each scale hands together in parallel motion, then contrary motion, then a parallel-contrary-contrary-parallel combination, and finally similar motion in thirds, using accents to strengthen the weaker fingers.