Playing Scalar Passages

A: There is no single best way to play a scale. It depends on whether you are playing all black notes, all whites notes or some mixture of the two. It depends on what articulation or dynamics exists in the music, if any. There is a standard way of playing an octave scale, or a multi-octave scale, but this method cannot always be used in its exact form. It can, however, help you develop a good fingering for whatever you are trying to play.

Playing upward with the right hand: Starting with the thumb, play one note per finger, passing the thumb under the third or fourth finger. The thumb should play the first note of each new octave.

Playing downward with the left hand: See instructions for playing upward with the right hand.

Playing downward with the right hand: Starting with the pinky, play one note per finger, passing the third or fourth finger over the thumb after the thumb plays. The thumb should play the last note of the octave.

Playing upward with the left hand: See instructions for playing downward with the right hand.

If the scale-like passage in the music does not follow the exact pattern of a scale, then you can use some guidelines to find an effective fingering:

- In general, avoid playing a black key with the thumb. If it must be done, try to make it the very first or last note.

- Try to use all of your fingers, so that you are not constantly passing your thumb under or your fingers over. Don't pass under or over unless it is necessary.

- Do what is comfortable for and fits under your hand. In other words, bend these rules as you see fit.

I haven't heard of any other techniques for playing scalar passages besides passing the thumb under and the fingers over. There are special cases in which a scalar passage might be played, for instance, with just one finger, specifically for the detached sound that such an approach would create. This might be indicated in the music.

There are probably dozens of piano exercise books available to help with technique for playing scales and just about anything else. I have seen exercises that have odd fingerings to practice, to develop flexibility. This can be a good approach. Then, when a specific difficult passage comes up, you have lots of tools at your disposal.

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