How do I play this scale?

[ranniks]

Octave scales.

Example: 1 on C, 5 on one octave higher C, then doing the same for each next note. What is the fingering for this? My teacher explained it to me once, and I got it technically, but I couldn't play it legato. I think it was like 1-5, 1-4, 1-3, 1-4,1-5 for fingering???

[gozo490]

im not 100% certain what you mean but if its what i think:

C - C , D-D, E-E, F-F etc

then i would personally go with 1 -5, 1-4,1-5,1-4

please can you clarify if im misintepreting what you mean

[asiantraveller101]

Your fingering requires big hands. Some people only have the maximum span of an octave and thus, have to finger using 1-5 all the way and rely on pedal for connection.

[ranniks]

im not 100% certain what you mean but if its what i think:

C - C , D-D, E-E, F-F etc

then i would personally go with 1 -5, 1-4,1-5,1-4

please can you clarify if im misintepreting what you mean

That's what I meant.

s = sharp

Basicaly the entire E major scale but like this: E - E, Fs - Fs, Gs - Gs - A - A, B - B, Cs - Cs, Ds - Ds and repeat to next octave. All done with one hand. The left hand could do the same but two octaves lower I think. Otherwise you'll play the E that the right hand needs.

So then 1-5, 1-4, 1-5, 1-4, etc?

How do you call this scale method?

Basically it's playing with one hand octave E, octave F sharp etc until the end of the E major scale. This is to prepare me for the moonlight sonata mvt1.

Your fingering requires big hands. Some people only have the maximum span of an octave and thus, have to finger using 1-5 all the way and rely on pedal for connection.

My hands aren't that big, but I can do a 1-3 on F sharp after doing 1-4 on F. Not easily done with my right hand though, doing it left handed isn't too hard for me since I can reach further with my left hand. But I'm still a beginner though, so I need to practise this exercise very well.

[gozo490]

hmm, im not 100% sure, i will give it a try when i get in! as i was thinking about it in C not E, not sure how id go about it, may even run it by my teacher tommorow. I have recently finished the moonlight sonata and i can see why it would help.

i have an issue with my hand, so i try not to stretch that far but i can reach an octave with my 3rd, i would therefor alternate between my 4th and 5th where appropriate (gives my pinky a rest ).

Im not saying this  is the way to do it, but personally thats how id go about it. it guess it all depends on whats comfortable for you, and of course the peice. in some instances the pedal will be required but in scales id try to avoid that just keep it legato between the lower and the upper notes and it should sound smooth. i mean my hands are fairly large but subconciously id go with 1 and 5 all the way up lol.

 

[ranniks]

hmm, im not 100% sure, i will give it a try when i get in! as i was thinking about it in C not E, not sure how id go about it, may even run it by my teacher tommorow. I have recently finished the moonlight sonata and i can see why it would help.

i have an issue with my hand, so i try not to stretch that far but i can reach an octave with my 3rd, i would therefor alternate between my 4th and 5th where appropriate (gives my pinky a rest ).

Im not saying this  is the way to do it, but personally thats how id go about it. it guess it all depends on whats comfortable for you, and of course the peice. in some instances the pedal will be required but in scales id try to avoid that just keep it legato between the lower and the upper notes and it should sound smooth. i mean my hands are fairly large but subconciously id go with 1 and 5 all the way up lol.

I forgot to ask my teacher the name of the piece today, but he said 'octave scale of e major' or something along those lines.

Either way, he told me for the e major scale: 1-5 for the white keys and 1-4 for the black keys.

Thanks btw.

[ajspiano]

I forgot to ask my teacher the name of the piece today, but he said 'octave scale of e major' or something along those lines.

Either way, he told me for the e major scale: 1-5 for the white keys and 1-4 for the black keys.

Thanks btw.

It kind of depends on what effect your trying to create, your teacher has given you one of the standard approaches - nothing is ever that simple though really. And some people will tell you to use 1-5 always to avoid twist/stretch (a taubman instruction) which may be fair for those of us with smaller hands..

Have a look, and if you are game, try playing the gentler section of chopin's octave etude (25/10), just the RH - slowly. (or if that really pushes your limits just think about the fingering ideas that people put on the notation to generate the legato without pedal and try them in a different example, such as your scale.

^ that should give you some idea about why musical effect matters, because you wouldn't use that kind of fingering (the switches) if you don't need the legato.. and it kind of help teach you to consider the upper note the melody, and the lower an accompaniment - which is a good development for your interpretive skills relating to a lot of octave situations.