Scale Difficulty

[wotgoplunk]

Why is it that some people when first doing technique find it easier to go ascending or descending? I still have considerably more difficulty descending then ascending when doing scales, however chords are the opposite, I find it more difficult ascending. Anyone else have (or had) this problem?

[ramseytheii]

I noticed that ascending in the RH is more difficult, and descending in the LH is more difficult.  is this what you are talking about?

If so I think it is because the natural way to use the thumb is not the most obvious way.  If you want fast and pearly scales you can't cross the thumb under but rather the hand moves sideways and the thumb plays then.  Not perfectly sideways, but in an elegent arch.


Walter Ramsey

[kelly_kelly]

I noticed that ascending in the RH is more difficult, and descending in the LH is more difficult.

I was wondering about that (I noticed the same thing), but your explanation makes sense. Thanks!

[counterpoint]

I noticed that ascending in the RH is more difficult, and descending in the LH is more difficult.  is this what you are talking about?

If so I think it is because the natural way to use the thumb is not the most obvious way.  If you want fast and pearly scales you can't cross the thumb under but rather the hand moves sideways and the thumb plays then.  Not perfectly sideways, but in an elegent arch.


Walter Ramsey

Very good explanation!

Then there are some scales, where playing upwards (for the right hand) is not so troublesome (for example D major, E major, A major and H major) If the finger before the thumb is on a black key, it's very comfortable to play even upwards.