How to play piano scales with just three fingers?

[jason_sioco]

I want to play fast runs on the piano. Unfortunately, my ring finger and my pinkie are weak. Then I saw Erroll Garner play fast scales on the piano and he uses only three fingers. For example, a major scale, doesn't matter if it's black key or white key, how do you play the scale with just three fingers?

[faulty_damper]

Playing scales is more than just moving the fingers.  It requires the most complicated movement combinations to make them easy to play and to sound good.  Too many over-rely on finger movements and then complain that they hate practicing scales.  Well of course they hate it!  They can't play them even after dozens of hours of practice.  If they figured out how to incorporate all necessary movements, it will be easy as pie.

[polishookm]

Many pianists in that day of Erroll Garner, like Art Tatum and Nat Cole, played 3 finger runs. It was part of the style of the day. There are scale figures that fit well under 3 fingers and it's also an easy way to get a bright percussive sound - with runs that fit to 3 fingers. but none of those pianists played 3-finger style because of weak 4th and 5th fingers. Fingering for them was for musical effect ...