How to Play a D Minor Scale on Piano

The D minor scale on piano is unique in that it has only one flat (Bb) and no sharps. This will allow your hand to smoothly glide over the keys with little change in your wrist position, due to the minimal number of black keys. The D minor scale should be used to master flexibility and forearm stability. Each hand will have to make only one finger crossing on the way up, and one on the way down. The D minor scale shares the same key signature as F major.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Practice the D minor scale with only your right hand first. Place your thumb on D5 and ascend a minor-third interval to F5. Cross your thumb under your middle finger on G5. Five notes should remain in the scale (G, A, Bb, C, D). Because these notes make up a perfect-fifth interval, you will not have to cross your finger again until you descend. Play the remaining notes in the scale, landing your pinkie finger on D6.

2. Descend the scale beginning on D6. Come down a perfect-fifth interval to G5 and stop. Cross your middle finger over your thumb at F5. Play the remaining two notes (F, E, D) with your middle finger, index finger and thumb, in that exact order. Your thumb should now be on D5, the same note you started on.

3. Perform the D minor scale with your left hand only. Place your pinkie on D4. Ascend a perfect-fifth interval to A4 and stop. Cross your middle finger over your thumb on Bb5. Bb5 is the only flat note in the scale, and is thus raised higher than the white keys before it. When you cross your fingers on this note, bring your middle finger off the keys higher than normal, to ensure accurate pitch. Black keys are not as wide as white keys, so whenever a finger crossing takes place on one, precision is a must. Continue to ascend the scale a major-third interval to D5. Your thumb should land on D5.

4. Descend the piano scale beginning on D5. Come down a major-third interval and stop with your middle finger on Bb5. Cross your middle finger under your thumb at A5. A perfect-fifth interval now remains in the scale. Descend this interval all the way to D4. Your pinkie finger should be on D4 and in its original starting position. Keep your wrist and forearm as stable as possible when playing the last five notes descending the scale.

5. Practice the D minor scale with both hands on the piano at the same time. Use a tempo of 90 beats per minute to start. Pay close attention to where your fingers cross on both hands. Keep your fingers high off the keys to build flexibility. Ascend and descend the scale at least five times before increasing the tempo. You may continue to slowly increase the tempo to a maximum of 170 beats per minute.