How to Play a Db Minor Scale on Piano

Learning to play the Db minor scale on piano requires much practice and special attention to finger placement and crossing. The Db minor scale has a high seven flats (Db, Eb, Fb, Gb, Ab, B double flat and Cb). Every note in the scale has a flat next to it, making finger precision of the utmost importance. There are only two white keys in the scale (Fb and Cb) that are enharmonically spelled as E and B, but the scale does not refer to them as these pitches in the key signature. This scale must be practiced slowly to start.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Practice with your right hand first. Place your index finger on Db4. Ascend only two notes to Eb4 and stop. Cross your thumb under your middle finger at Fb4. Continue to ascend through Gb4 and Ab4. Bring your thumb under your middle finger to B double flat 5. Continue through Cb and land your middle finger on Db5. As you can see, you only use three fingers as you ascend the scale: your thumb, index and middle finger.

2. Descend the Db minor scale, beginning on Db5. Come down through B double flat 5 and cross your middle finger over your thumb at Ab4. Descend through Fb4 with your thumb and stop. Cross your middle finger over your thumb. Continue to the bottom of the scale, where your index finger should land on Db4 in its original position.

3. Perform the scale with your left hand only now. Place your middle finger on Db3 to begin. Ascend over the first three notes (Db, Eb, Fb) and stop. Bring your ring finger over your thumb at Gb3. You will not cross again for another four notes. Ascend through Gb, Ab, B double flat and Cb. Your thumb should now be on Cb. Using your thumb on Cb as the pivot point, cross your index finger over your thumb to Db4. Keep your thumb in position on Cb4 through this crossing until the turn to come down the scale.

4. Descend the Db minor scale, beginning on Db4. Take your finger off of the high octave Db and cross it over your thumb to B double flat 4. Your thumb should be pivoting on Cb4 though this step. Descend to Gb4, where your ring finger will be, and stop. Bring your thumb under your ring finger to Fb3. Descend the last three notes of the scale (Fb, Eb, Db). Your thumb should land on Db3.

5. Practice ascending and descending the Db minor scale with both hands at the same time. The finger crossings are very tricky for both hands and the patterns are not the same, so practice at a very slow tempo to begin. 50 beats per minute is a good starting tempo. Pay very close attention to finger accuracy when turning the octave to come back down. Play this scale at a maximum tempo of 130 beats per minute.