How to Play an Ab Major Scale on Piano

The Ab major scale on piano offers medium difficulty and requires that you focus on efficient finger crossings and wide wrist and forearm movement. Most finger crossing require a big jump, most often three notes or more, so it is important that you keep your fingers high off of the keyboard in order to keep them from running into one another. You can use the Ab major scale to improve your overall finger dexterity and flexibility, so that the surrounding flat-side scales become much easier without even practicing them.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Practice the Ab major scale with your right hand only first. Place your index on Ab3 and ascend the scale accordingly. Cross your thumb under your middle finger at C4. Your hand will now be in a position to continue the scale to the top of the octave with only one more crossing. Play each remaining note so that your fingers strike the keys with a vertical approach. Cross your thumb under your middle finger at F4 and continue the scale to the high octave Ab. Place your middle finger on Ab4.

2. Descend the scale. Cross your middle finger over your thumb at Eb4. Continue to descend the scale and cross your middle finger again, this time at Bb3. Only one note remains in the scale. Your index finger should be in the starting position on Ab3. As you come down the Ab major scale, pay close attention to how the notes and finger crossings come in groups of three. This is unique to the Ab major scale. Use your strongest fingers to play these groups. This will increase your speed and flexibility.

3. Practice with your left hand. The left hand pattern is very different from that of the right hand. The finger crossing must be played with more precision. Place your middle finger on Ab2, ascend the scale and stop at C3. Cross your ring finger over your thumb. Your ring finger will need to jump a perfect fourth interval, so make sure to get it high off of the keys. Continue up the scale and cross your fingers next at the very top of the octave. Cross your index finger over your thumb at Ab3. Use your thumb as the pivot point on G3.

4. Descend the scale. Immediately cross your index finger over your thumb at F3. Continue down the scale and stop at Db3. Cross your thumb under your ring finger at C3. Your thumb will have to cross a wide perfect fifth interval. Shift your wrist and forearm to the left to make this jump easier and more efficient. Finish out the scale, landing your middle finger on Ab2.

5. Practice the Ab major sale on piano with both of your hands. Due to the complex nature of the finger crossings, do not practice this scale at a tempo of more 70 beats per minute to start. As you slowly master the octave turns and wide finger jumps, increase the tempo accordingly.