Scales and Arpeggios

Scales

1. C, am, F, dm, Bb, gm
2. Eb, Cm, Ab, Fm, Db, Bbm
3. F#, Ebm, B, Abm, E, C#m
4. AM, F#m, DM, Bm , GM, em

The scales are listed according to their order in which they appear on the Circle of fifths. Each Major scale is accompanied with its relative minor scale. All this instructions are suitable for students preparing ABRSM or Trinity College exams.

The fingerings should be applied to the notes of each scale going through two octaves.

The b and # are always indicated next to the name of the scales.

An SF (standard fingering) indicates that the fingering corresponds to the one used to play C. In that case we just apply the same finger numbers to the scale we are playing.    

SF =
RH 123 1234 123 12345
LH 54321 321 4321 321

The scales are arranged in four groups of six to facilitate their study.


Group 1

C
SF
RH 123 1234 123 12345
LH 54321 321 4321 321

Am
Up –F#,G#
Down -all whites-
SF

F (Bb)

RH 1234 123 1234 1234

LH 54321 321 4321 321

Dm
Up –C#
Down -Bb
SF

Bb (Bb, Eb)
RH 2 123 1234 123 1234
LH 321 4321 321 4321 2

Gm
Up -Bb, F#
Down -Bb, Eb
SF

 

Group 2

 

Eb  (Bb, Eb, Ab )
RH 2 1234 123 1234 123
LH 321 4321 321 4321 2

 

 

Cm
Up -Eb
Down  – Bb, Eb, Ab
SF

 

 

Ab (Bb, Eb, Ab, Db)
RH 23 123 1234 123 123
LH 321 4321 321 4321 2

 

Fm
Up -Ab, Bb
Down -Bb, Eb, Ab, Db
RH 1234 123 1234 1234
LH 54321 321 4321 321

 

 

Db (Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb)
RH 23 1234 123 1234 12
LH 321 4321 321 4321 2

 

 

Bbm
Up -Bb, Eb, Db
Down -Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb
RH 2 123 1234 123 1234
LH 21 321
 4321 321 432

 

Group 3

F# (F#, C#, G#, D# A#, E#)
RH 234 123 1234 123 12
LH 4321 321 4321 321 2

Ebm
Up –Gb, Ab, Bb
Down -Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb

RH 2 1234 123 1234 123
LH 21 4321 321 4321 32

B  (F#, C#, G#, D#, A#)
RH  123 1234 123 12435
LH  4321 4321 321 4321

Abm
Up -Ab, Bb, Cb, Db, Eb
Down – all b
RH 23 123 1234 123 123
LH 321 321 4321 321 32

E  (F#, C#, G#, D#)

SF​

C#m
Up -C#, D#, F#. G#, A#. B#
Down -C#, D#, F#. G#
RH 23 1234 123 1234 12
LH 321 4321 321 4321 2

 

Group 4

 

(F#, C#, G#)
SF

 

F#m
Up -F#, G#, C#, D#, E#
Down -F#, C#, G#
RH 23 1234 123 1234 12
LH 321 4321 321 4321 2

 

D  (F#, C#)
SF

 

Bm
Up -F#, C#, G#, A#
Down -F#, C#
RH 123 1234 123 12345
LH 4321 4321 321 4321

 

G  (F#)
SF

Em
Up –F#, C#, D#
Down –F
SF

Scales hands together

The scales which are played using standard fingering are particularly easy to put together as the distribution of fingers is worked out in a mirror image.


Mirror fingering
1-2-3-1-2-3-4-[1]-2-3-1-2-3-4-5
5-4-3-2-1-3-2-[1]-4-3-2-1-3-2-1

 

To understand this mirror image easily we have to classify our fingers in four groups: 1. middle fingers (3); 2.even fingers (2 and 4); 3.extreme fingers (1 and 5); 4. beginning  fingers (1 and 2).


Now we can easily see how they interact:
1. Opposite extreme fingers
2. Opposite even numbers
3. Middle fingers
4. Opposite beginning fingers


This method can be applied to: C, Am, dm, gm, Cm, E, A, D, G and Em


For some other scales this is not going to work
For example:

FM-Bb-

1-2-[3]-4-[1]-2-3-[1]-2-[3]-4-[1]-2-3-4
5-4-[3]-2-[1]-3-2-[1]-4-[3]-2-[1]-3-2-1

 

 


Arpeggios

Group 1

C   (C, E, G)
RH 123 1235
LH 5421 421

Am  (A, C, E)
RH 123 1235
LH 5421 421

 

 

 (F, A, C )
RH 123 1235
LH  532 1321

 

 

Dm  (D, F, A)
RH 123 1235
LH 5421 421

Bb  (Bb, D, F)
RH 21 241 24
LH 21 421 42

 

Gm  (G, Bb, D)
RH 123 1235
LH  532 1321

 

Group 2

Eb (Eb, G, Bb)
RH 21 241 24
LH 21 421 42

Cm (C, Eb, G)
RH 123 1235
LH 532 1321

Ab (Ab, C, Eb)
RH 21 241 24
LH 21 421 42

Fm (F, Ab, C)
RH 123 1235

LH 532 1321

Db (Db, F, Ab)
RH 21 241 24
LH 21 421 42

Bbm (Bb, Db, F)
RH 23 123 12
LH 32 132 12

 

Group 3

F# (F#, A#, C#)
RH 123 1235
LH 5321 321

Ebm (Eb, Gb, Bb)
RH 123 1235
LH 532 1321

B (B, D#, F#)
RH 123 1235
LH 5321 321

Abm (Ab, Cb, Eb)
RH 21 241 24
LH 21 421 42

E (E, G#, B)
RH 123 1235
LH 532 1321

C#m (C#, E, G#)
RH 21 241 24
LH 21 421 42

 

Group 4

​A (A, C#, E)
RH 123 1235
LH 532 1321

F#m (F#, A, C#)
RH 21 241 24
LH 21 421 42

D  (D, F#, A)
RH 123 1235
LH 532 1321

Bm (B, D, F#)
RH 123 1235
LH 5421 421

G (G, B, D)
RH 123 1235
LH 5421 421

Em (E, G, B)
RH 123 1235
LH 5421 421