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Topic: Symmetric scales fingerings? (Read 2222 times)

Petter

PS Silver Member
Sr. Member
Posts: 1183

Symmetric scales fingerings?

on: June 17, 2008, 12:03:13 PM

I´m curious what fingerings to apply to symmetric scales like the whole tone scales and half/whole diminshed scales. I assume it´s different depending on what note you start on. Still thinking there would be some litterature and basic conceptions about it? Perhaps something I have to work out by myself, oh the drudgery..

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slobone

PS Silver Member
Sr. Member
Posts: 1059

Re: Symmetric scales fingerings?

Reply #1 on: June 17, 2008, 09:36:52 PM

If you want to avoid putting the thumb on a black key, you have to do

C D E F# G# A# C
1 2 1 2 3 4 1

For the other one, you can do

C# D# F G A B C#
2 3 1 2 3 1 2

With the Slonimsky scales, I try not to get too hung up on the fingering. Whenever possible I avoid putting the thumb on a black key, and I tend to do them in groups of 3 or 4. I also find it helpful to keep the left and right hands in sync, so I'm turning both thumbs under at the same time.