How to play an ascending and descending C major scale on the piano, over an octave, with separate hands and both hands, and the corresponding fingering. Here, we will learn to play the diatonic scale of C major with both hands, over an octave. Let's start with the right hand and the thumb placed on the C note: C = first finger, D = second finger, E = third finger, F = thumb below, G = second finger, A = third finger, B = fourth finger and C = fifth finger. Backwards: C = fifth finger, B = fourth finger, A = third finger, G = second finger, F = thumb, E = third finger above, D = second finger and C = first finger (thumb). On the left hand, we place the fifth finger on the C note. C = fifth finger, D = fourth finger, E = third finger, F = second finger, G = thumb, A = third finger above, B = second finger and C = thumb. Backwards: C = thumb, B = second finger, A = third finger, G = thumb below, F = second finger, E = third finger, D = fourth finger and C = fifth finger. Now let's put the hands together with the same fingering. The thumb of the right hand (left hand) on the C note, and the fifth finger of the left hand on the C note too.