What is the Most Difficult Scale on the Piano? What is Mirror Fingering?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 มิ.ย. 2024
- The answer to What is the Most Difficult Scale on the Piano may surprise you!
I want to offer another possibility which some people may appreciate. There are two major scales that don't have any mirror fingering whatsoever. That is, the thumbs never play the same notes in both hands. Those scales are B-flat and E-flat. For that reason, it is arguable that those scales may be the most difficult.
5:07 "A whole *C* of white keys". I saw what you did there!
This makes a good point! Most people see the black keys and think they add so much difficulty, when in reality, they are like landmarks on a map.
Gearhart They may like great 👍🏽 lol
I agree that C major is the most difficult. Because there are no black keys to play, it's really easy to do finger crossings at the wrong time (e.g. crossing over/under the 3rd finger instead of the 4th) which you only realize when you get to the end of the scale and realize your final C ends up being played by your ring finger instead of your pinky or something :-)
Been there 😆
I just started learning piano and when you did that B major scale my eyes opened up in horror....... time to practice
It'll get better, I was actually watching this and thinking "it's gotta be C-Major, it's gotta be C-Major". Just look at Prokofiev's Third Piano Concerto Op. 26, the First movement!!!
B Major is a good one to start on because it fits the hand well. Chopin started his students on this scale.
@@p1anosteve The Russian school also tends to start students on that as it is most ergonomic.
@@p1anosteve and you've learnt C flat major at the same time!
@@simondavis8634 😂
Chopin used to teach his students to play BM First and CM last. He would go all the way with the scales that have the most black keys to the ones with fewer black keys.
very cool I didn't know that one.
I think Chopin and Schubert belonged to the first generation whose pianos all used equal temperament. That's probably why you suddenly see D flat major, G flat and B major being used so often in the mid 19th century.
B major fits into the hand much more nicely than C major
@@user_2837It fits the length of the fingers perfectly and naturally if you lay in 5 finger position on the IV of B major
Thank you for offering such great lessons.
You are also enjoyable to watch.
Thanks Robert, this is so helpful.
From the day I started playing the piano, I've always felt that C major is the most difficult scale on piano and he's the first guy who told this.......and that's true!
Sir, you probably have the best content about piano.
I actually improvise in C most of the time because I come from a solfege background, but white keys do lead to more "hitting two notes with the same finger" mistakes.
Thank you very much for uploading this video. It was very helpful.
Love the new intro peice Robert. Long time fan. Awesome vid thanks
Great explanation and a surprising answer indeed. I imagine that for many pianists C major also feels the easiest because it's likely the one they've practiced the most.
Very interesting! Good point!
Great video!
I agree with C. Using the black keys as a pivot definitely helps for the other scales
Mirror fingering to me is where you practise scales in contrary motion left and right hands then use exactly the same fingers in some scales (e.g. C major and Eb major and yes D major and so on)
Yup, I realised this when I was taking piano lessons many years ago. Counter-intuitive but true!
I agree both C major and A minor are the hardest to play evenly and with finesse, with B major being the easiest. I feel most comfortable in B major and C minor.
Chopin used to teach the B Major scale first. The second pentascale fits the hand perfectly, with the shorter thumb on E and the little finger on B, or for the left hand the thumb on B and little finger on E. I have Hanon and was only confused by their minor scales since they don't differentiate when they play melodic or harmonic minors. I prefer my book from Cory Hall with Bach Chorales since he shows each scale (up to 4 sharps and flats) with a seperate scale for harmonic and melodic minors, including contrary motion. This becomes important since melodic is different going up and down the scales.
The letters on the keyboard are placed so that the most frequently used ones are far apart from one another so that the same finger doesn't have to hit multiple keys in succession. With what you proposed your 2nd and 3rd fingers would do most of the job which is both tiring and confusing when you want to type fast.
Great video as always Robert nonetheless!
Thanks!
Robert - Thoroughly enjoyed your enthusiasm and teaching...I thought it might be C!
Same here, had a feeling it would be!
Before I lost my piano to Hurricane Michael I was working on my scale speed I hadn't played since then. Wonder if my technique has suffered
Good Evening, Mr/Brother Robert Estrin. I Love Your Analysis And Teaching, There Is Another Complete Book On--The Scales And Arpeggios, And It Is--The James Francis Cooke Book, With All The Scales And Arpeggios, And Quotes From The Great Pianists/Teachers Of Conservatories Worldwide And Music Schools On The Importance Of These Skills EveryDay Of Our Lives. God Bless U Always, Mr/Brother Robert Estrin, And Keep Up The Excellent Work That All You Do! Mr. Granville S.Wright, Church Musician, And Fellow Toastmaster, Baltimore County, And Baltimore City.
What a surprise!!
I have noticed that my (russian) version of Hanon uses finger 2 more on cromatic scales than is normally tought I think, it works fine but I would first learn the more common version.. Bought the abrsm grade 8 scales, I should start to learn the double note scales this year, seems like an impossible task..
For me personally, the most difficult scales are:
Major: B flat
Harmonic minor: B
Melodic minor: F#
Bb harmonic minor ascending for the left hand is another difficult scale for most I think because finger three has to reach over the top of Ab to play A natural. It's the same awkward movement as B harmonic minor descending in the right hand.
@@p1anosteve I'm finding D melodic minor difficult due to the way Bb becomes B and C becomes C# on the way up but on the way down it's C and Bb its SO confusing to me!!!
f# harmonic minor for me, contrary motion, is hardest for me
Did i correctly notice that the first 3 notes played in B major is that of the aong lean on me?
Interestingly, Eb major DOES have mirror fingerings AND key colors -- when playing in opposite directions! Left hand ascending: 3,2,1,4,3,2,1 (1 black + 2 whites, shift position, 2 blacks + 2 whites); Right hand descending: 3,2,1,4,3,2,1 (1 black + 2 whites, shift position, 2 blacks + 2 whites). Now, the spacing isn't always mirrored: e.g. the third to fourth notes while ascending (G to Ab; white to black) is a half-step, and the third to fourth notes while descending (C to Bb; white to black) is a whole step. Likewise for the left hand's 5th-to-6th notes ascending (Bb to C) and right hand's 5th-to-6th notes descending (Ab to G) [the SAME NOTES as just mentioned, in switched order].
Ab major is very similar, with noticeable differences (having an extra flat than Eb major).
But, for a beginner, this makes learning these scales easier than expected. At least it did for me when I first learned them!
i diagree even if u fault it doesnt matter as far as u going forward... So be the thumb tuck at 3rd or fourth or at anypoint doesnt matter.. as far as its not bring break in notes rythm cyclogically. C is really kinda simplest u can tuck the thumb at any position. Sometime u dont even need to like u playing a sequence of 4 or 5 notes pattern incremently like CDEF DEFG ...etc u just have to increment the thumb .. but its altogether a different matter if u playing such simple pattern on any mixed scale. Then u have to resolve fingering at many places depending where u playing and what exact notes pattern.
In C scale its simple u dont have to resolve much. U can put thumb anywhere the sequence or phrase requires u to have. No? 😀
F scale might be lil more intimidating... Since it has all the problem u mention for C being too uniform but then it has one off note.. And at very awkward position playing with 4th... Unlike in G scale in which E & F# lil further apart so no problem executing it with 4th. 😀
The easiest for me is the 5th mode of melodic D minor. Starting on A . So easy. D harmonic is also easy
Yeah...I didn't expect that...C major is hardest...especially since it's the only scales I can rudimentarily play, haha...
My gosh. I thought i was the only one thinking that.
in C scale its more a cyclogical barrier than physical... U missed the thumb at 3 or 4 and u get struck u playing wrong.. but actually nothing wrong as far as u know what the start and end note of whole sequence 😀
In other scale u will just get struck...lack of fingers to play notes etc. especially when playing legato.
I get the "anchoring" thing but I still find C the easiest of all.
Yes -- C major = conceptually the easiest but physically the hardest to pull off in both hands. I see this now.
Is that piano a Baldwin?? It sounds gorgeous
That is a Mason & Hamlin BB 7-foot grand piano. We are getting ready to shoot a video of it, hopefully today. Here it is on our website: livingpianos.com/pianos/mason-hamlin-bb-7-foot-grand-piano/
This is so true, I'm practicing scales now and I can do every scale except C Major at 120 or even 144. With C Major, despite me practice it the most, my hands just can't sync beyond 110.
For me probably F# minor and Bb major!
F# minor is same route of A major
And
Bb major is same route of G minor .
Is it necessary to practice every scale?
Very necessary
B-flat major is the hardest for me.
Before watching this, I know that Chopin thought it was C major.
C#, E flat, and f are the only ones I can’t get
Same route
F major - D minor
Eb major - C minor ,
C# major - A# minor .
Personally, Bb Melodic minor is the hardest scale xD
C
Dvorak keyboard
Had no idea Luke Skywalker played piano.
Solution: The Jankó Keyboard.
I know it is accepted musical convention, but it still baffles me why anyone needs to call a B a C flat
In this case, where he is talking about the G Major scale, there is no reason to call B C flat. But there are times when it is necessary. In the G flat Major scale, the third note is B flat. The fourth note must be a half step higher, i.e. B. But we can’t call it B because we already have a B in the scale-B flat. So, we have to call it C flat.
Had no idea Luke Skywalker played piano.