How to Play the Chromatic Scale on Piano or Keyboard. Correct fingering. Three fingers are used. Finger 1 (thumb), finger 2 (index finger) and finger 3 (middle finger). Starting on the note, C, going up the scale, the fingering for the right hand is 1313 123 1313 12. Starting on the note C, going down the scale, the fingering for the right hand is simply reversed. Descending, the fingering is 21 3131 321 3131. #pianoscales #chromaticscale #chromatic #pianoscale #scales #pianolesson #pianolessons