How to Play a Scale going Down the Piano

Introduction

A scale is a succession of notes on the piano. When you play a scale there is 8 keys that you have to play but you only have 5 fingers. This is how the pros do it. Playing scales will limber up your fingers, impress your friends and improve your thinking as you work out how to do it. Master a scale with both hands at the same time is your ultimate goal. This is for a scale going down (left) with the right hand. There is a another technique for the scale going up and the left hand.

By: pianistic

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Instructions

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Difficulty: Moderate

Step1

First hold up your hand and while looking at it mentally give your fingers numbers. It is easier to explain a scale when you assign your fingers' numbers. Your thumb is No. 1, pointer is No. 2, the index is No. 3, the ring finger is No. 4 and the pinky is No. 5.

Step2

Also, although it is not necessary to know this to play a scale the keys will be in this order. C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C

(The musical alphabet goes from A to G and starts all over again, but since we are doing a C scale we will start with the C.)

Step3

First with your right hand, find G on the piano. If you are not sure where it is then put your body right in the middle of the piano and find the two black keys. Place your No. 1 finger, on the left black key of the two black keys and let your thumb slide down to the first white key on the left. That is your C. Then next note will be D, E, F, G. Then 5th key from C is the G. Now you are in position to play.

Step4

You will be going down the piano which is left. You will be going backwards alphabetically, C, B, A, G, F, E, D, C . Your No. 1 finger will be on the G and your No. 5 finger is on the C. Starting with your No. 5 finger, push down No. 5 finger, No. 4 finger, No. 3 finger, No. 2 finger, and then No. 1 finger. At this point you have 3 more keys to go and no more fingers. To get more fingers we need to cross over. Take No. 3 finger and cross over your No. 1 finger and the No. 3 finger will land on the key next to your No. 1 key which is the F. Start pulling your No. 1 finger out from under your palm as your No. 3 finger lands on the F. Put your No. 2 on the next key (D) and the No. 1 finger will land on the last key (C) See the video for a visual guide.

Step5

There you have it, you have used 5 fingers to play 8 keys. Practice slowly without making mistakes and your speed will increase and you can amaze your friends. See my other video to learn how to do the C scale going up the piano, as well as using the left hand..

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