What's your favourite scales

[kghayesh]

I am currently now learning all major and minor scales in an intensive way..

I thought of this question:
What's your favourite major/minor scales??
What do you think is the easiest/hardest scale??



My favourite major scale is D flat  (Looks so hard but actually it is so easy to play)
My favourite minor scale is C sharp (Many of music's masterpieces are written in C#-)

I think the easiest scale is C major  and the hardest is Bb minor.

[robertp]

For pleasure: B major.

For technical value: D-flat and G-flat.

For difficulty: C major.

[thierry13]

I think the easiest scale is C major and the hardest is Bb minor.

The least complex is C major true. But the hardest. Chopin too tought of the C major as the hardest. Theorically the easiest, but technically the hardest, particularly in octaves, since you have no clues(black keys), its allways on white keys. I find MUCH easier to play scales in octave in any scale than in C major.

[tenn]

I love the feel of B major scale and arpeggio

[pianomann1984]

Octatonic scales in min 3rds. 

[steinwayguy]

The least complex is C major true. But the hardest. Chopin too tought of the C major as the hardest. Theorically the easiest, but technically the hardest, particularly in octaves, since you have no clues(black keys), its allways on white keys. I find MUCH easier to play scales in octave in any scale than in C major.

That's stupid, and terribly inefficient. Why would playing octaves in E major be easier than playing octaves in C Major? Right, it wouldn't.

[ryno200sx]

I am currently now learning all major and minor scales in an intensive way.. /quote]

kghayesh: Just curious-Are you using any particular methods to learn these scales or are you just taking them one by one?

Thanks,
Ryan

[Rach3]

That's stupid, and terribly inefficient. Why would playing octaves in E major be easier than playing octaves in C Major? Right, it wouldn't.

Well, actually for me it's a lot easier.

Regarding the OT - having just recently performed the Brandenburg 5 (whole pages of 32nd D major scales), and now working on a piece with fast D major scales in thirds, I can definitively say that D major is my least favorite scale.

Favorite - maybe B-flat major?

[ludwig]

I find F major the most difficult scale, it just feels a little awkward, I do think that playing E major double octaves is harder than playing C major, simply because of the unequal spaces between the notes.... especially for little hands... I personally find melodic minors the niciest and easiest to play =)

[thierry13]

That's stupid, and terribly inefficient. Why would playing octaves in E major be easier than playing octaves in C Major? Right, it wouldn't.

Because, in C major, you allways have to move the same way super fast, without any clues. But, when there are black keys, there are clues of your hand movement, and in octaves, say at about 150 in sixteenth, its much easier to play a scales with black notes than the C major one.

[mb]

Well, here is my take on it. I enjoy listening to songs typically played in A Aeolian. However, playing guitar instead of piano (though I would love to play piano), I am going to have to go with playing blues. I like the way it plays and feels. Particularly A blues, has such a nice feel...a nice sound...so calm and relaxing

[ted]

I have no favourites and none stand out as being easy or hard.

[quantum]

One of the easiest:  for me E major, in octaves as well. 

When I first leanred the black key minor scales I thgouht all those wierd fingerings were just too much.  But now, sometimes they may seem  easier than C major. 

Modes: phrygian, lydian

Non-western: hejaz, purvi
(not nearly as fun as hearing them on pursian instruments with their microtonal tunings)


Interesting stuff I do with scales:

Major 9ths in both hands (chromatic).

The Hanon excercieses in alternating octaves. 

Any combination of bi-tonal scales.  Eg: C and F# major. 

[kghayesh]

Replying to Ryan's question,

I am learning them one bye one and one each day. I first learning all major scales, and these days i am learning all harmonic minors.
Concerning the order of learning, I followed some topic posted here by Bernhard where he stated that one must start with the scales that contain 5 black keys (B, Db, F# major) then start from C and move up the cycle of fifths and then down the cycle of fourths until learning all scales..

When learning the minors, i started from A then D then G and so on.... (cycle of fourth).

I don't know this is right or not, but what i care about most is that i should finish as soon as possible as i am entering grade 5 ABRSM exam next month and required are all major and melodic or harmonic minor scales in all keys.

[nanabush]

I love Db major chord, and I also love running up and down the keyboard with the notes Db, Gb and Ab, like the tonic, subdominant and dominant of Db major, just randomly playin reallllly fast up the piano, Iunno if I get frustrated Ill do that.  And I find the hardest scale in fast contrary motion is C major because as said earlier, no clues...  I also detest Arpeggios in C major..  I find the easiest scale Gflat major though, after years of practicing each one...

[hgiles]

Octatonic scales in min 3rds. 

What?  Are you the same guy that said his favorite chords were G+6 and Dom7th.  Octatonic scales a minor third apart is the same scale!!

You're crazy!

[nanabush]

I like major scales way more than minor, makes me feel good when I play them, especially Db or F# major, sounds so happy, don't ask why I just love those scales!

[pianomann1984]

What?  Are you the same guy that said his favorite chords were G+6 and Dom7th.  Octatonic scales a minor third apart is the same scale!!

You're crazy!

Of course its the same scale, but playing one hand a third up from the other means you are playing very different handshapes - it's actually quite challenging, and very satisfying.  On a different point, I said my favourite chords were Min7b5 and the Scriabin Chord, although I would love to see who did say that G+6 & Dom7th - I would suspect he/she was joking though, unless including the way that they resolve, which is of course different. 

[Triton LE 76]

E harmonic minor..like the mood you get once you listen to it
Symphony X and Adagio is the best!!

Joern