Two-octave scales

Many pupils go wrong half-way through two-octave scales, where the fingering pattern starts again. Pupils try to get over this by trial and error – ‘taking a run at it’ and hoping for the best. This is not an efficient way to learn.

Musicarta tackles the problem head on with a scale practice pattern for Group One scales (C, G, D, A, and E) called ‘From Middle Thumbs’. You learn the two-octave scales from the spot where things usually go wrong – the middle of the two-octave scale where the thumbs play together – so you know the hardest part best of all.

'From middle thumbs' method

Here is a two-octave C major scale with the ‘middle thumbs’ area highlighted.

This is where we start our ‘from middle thumbs’ build-up.

1. Put your thumbs on ‘the middle C’s’. When you play two-octave Group One scales, the fingers either side of those middle thumbs are fingers 2 and 4. . Rotate around the middle thumbs playing ‘true scale fingering’ fingers 2 and 4, where they are supposed be – although ‘you don’t really need to’.

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The rest of the Musicarta material on key signatures

• How the sharps and flats build up;
• How to immediately name a major key from the key signature;
• Contour scale practice patterns;
• Rhythmic scale practice patterns;
• Scale-tone practice patterns
• Pentatonic scales
• Modes
  

Plus the invaluable Key-specific Keyboard diagrams "and much more besides" has now moved to the

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