How to Play a B Minor Scale on Piano

Learning to play a B minor scale on piano comes with unique challenges that most other piano scales do not offer. The key signature has two sharps (F#, C#) and forces your fingers to make crossings at awkward positions. Thus, it is important that when practicing this scale you focus on effective wrist height and fluid forearm movement as you ascend and descend the scale. This scale also requires that you focus on keeping your fingers slightly curled as you play. This makes the black key to white key crossings much more efficient.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Begin by practicing with your right hand. Place your thumb on B4. Ascend a minor third interval through B, C# and D. Bring your thumb under your middle finger to E4. Ascend the scale's remaining perfect fifth interval through E, F#, G, A and B. You should land on the last note of the scale (B5) with your pinkie. As you ascend the B minor scale, raise your wrists about one half of an inch higher than your natural position.

2. Descend the scale beginning on B5. Come down a perfect fifth interval through the notes B, A, G, F#, E. Cross your middle finger over your thumb at D4. Finish the last minor third of the scale through D, C# and B. Your thumb should land squarely on B4. Keep your fingers curled as you descend the scale and you will see an increase in both speed and flexibility.

3. Focus on playing with your left hand only. Place your ring finger on B3. Ascend a perfect fourth interval through the notes B, C#, D and E. Cross your ring finger over your thumb to F#3. Your finger will have to cross a wide interval here so turn your wrist slightly to the right as you pivot from the thumb on E3 to the middle finger on F#3. Play the remaining prefect fourth interval through F#, G, A and B. Your thumb should land on B4 to end the scale.

4. Descend the B minor scale with your left hand beginning on B4. Descend a perfect fourth interval through the notes B, A, G and F#. Cross your thumb under your middle finger to E3. Your thumb will cross a large perfect fifth interval. Raise your wrist slightly so that your thumb does not run into any of your other fingers or inaccurate pitches. Descend the remaining perfect fourth through E, D, C# and B. Your ring finger should now be on B3 in the exact same position you started the scale in.

5. Practice the B minor scale with both hands at the same time. Though each hand has its own pattern, the patterns are fairly similar and don't force your brain to separate the motions from one another as much as other scale pattern differences do. However, this scale demands that you keep your wrists high and your forearms stable through each passing note. Practice this scale at a starting tempo of 85 beats per minute and slowly increase it to no more than 160 beats per minute.

[AndyMeyers]

on 12/31/2008 As a beginner i find this very helpful,but i think it contains a couple of error..I may be wrong,but in step four how can the thumb go under the middle if your using the ring finger on the F# ?