I find learning scales really tricky.

I was curious - do you memorise them by 'saying' the note names in your head as you play them? I don't - I just try to memorise the finger patterns.

Should I be trying to recite the note names in my head as I play scales? Will that make it easier for me? (By the way, I play the viola and flute - it's the flute scales that I find difficult to remember).

Thanks

Just learn the scales the way that you feel comfortable. I find it easier just going up and down the finger patterns but then I play clarinet. If you know the sharps/flats/accidentals in your scales then you will be fine as long as you concentrate.

Good luck

As a flute teacher, I find that everyone seems to keep a tally of the note names as they play a scale, even though most of them are unaware of it. The evidence for this is in the mistakes they make: for example if they are playing Eb major, but thinking of the Ab as a G#, they'll miss out G natural. I love the look on their faces when I say 'You were thinking that of note as a G#' - the musical equivalent of eyes in the back of my head, I suppose

It can be useful to name out loud the notes of a scale, both ascending and descending, before starting to play it. That way, the fingers often go to the right notes straight away, which reduces the likelihood of the wrong movements being internalised.

I think it's different for different instruments. I know I always thought of the note names for violin scales, but for piano, I just thought of the key signature and the tonic chord and then it just came.

i find the best way is to remember the finger patterns so that when the examiner says play b flat major i can just reel it off, rather than having to think what sharps or flats are in it.
This is just my way of learning them however i'm sure its not the best way for everyone.
Oh by the way learn them from memory straight away and dont use the abrsm books as they can just confuse the situation. I started out this way and i just got so confused. If your not too hot on your keys signatures then they may help for that but i would advise against playing from the bokks directly.

Hope this is helpfull. (I play clarinet by the way.)


Love Sam.
xx

Hi,

My way of learning and playing scales is by hearing the next note in my head first.
My cello teacher once told me to do this exersise where you play one note and then sing the next and that's helped me a lot because, even though you can't sing aloud in the exam, you can still hear it in your head.

It might sound kinda boring and tiresome but it worked for me!!
Give it a go and don't worry!! Do what you feel is best!

Daisy

I don't play the flute but for me, I learnt the piano scales by the pattern on the keyboard and imagining images in my head that go with thme (this was when I was a kid and it has stuck since). e.g. A major is like a bride (C#) and two bridesmaids (F# G#) etc. Crazy I know but it worked. Unfortunately for this method meant I never learnt the theory behind scales until now, never learnt the actual key signature. Bad bad bad because if you were to analyse music, do theory exams or transfer your musical knowledge to other instruments, you would be clueless.

For violin, I learn them off by both the finger placements and by hearing the next note before I play.

Like others have said, this would differ from instrument to instrument. Maybe for the flute you could learn the finger patterns?

i dont have a set way to learn scales! whne i play Db major on the piano i know i hav to play all the black notes so i just remember what white keys to play! i do that as well with B major, F#major etc...

on the clarinet i have no idea how i play them!!lol

QUOTE (Natalie @ May 6 2004, 04:21 PM)

i dont have a set way to learn scales! whne i play Db major on the piano i know i hav to play all the black notes so i just remember what white keys to play! i do that as well with B major, F#major etc...

lol Nat !

I do the same thing with scales with mostly black notes!

I use finger pattern for scales,arpegg etc. It's a safer option for me.

For example, Dmaj 12312345 you know that finger 3 = F# and 4 = C#
Same for all scales really. F maj, 4th finger on Bb.

It works because you are consistent with the fingering throughout scales.
Obviously a little differnt for Eb maj etc.

I don't think it matters which fingers you use as long as you are consistent so that you don't get your fingers in a tiz !

Can you not do something similar to finger patterns on flute ? (sorry, I don't know flute )

QUOTE (Daisy @ May 5 2004, 12:46 PM)

Hi, My way of learning and playing scales is by hearing the next note in my head first.

Thanks for your all your replies - it is interesting to see how other people learn their scales.

I've been practising them every day this week and I'm already seeing an improvement.

Daisy - it's funny, but I do that automatically, and I never really thought about it!

QUOTE (Fiona @ May 7 2004, 12:48 PM)

I use finger pattern for scales,arpegg etc. It's a safer option for me. For example, Dmaj 12312345 you know that finger 3 = F# and 4 = C# Same for all scales really. F maj, 4th finger on Bb. It works because you are consistent with the fingering throughout scales. Obviously a little differnt for Eb maj etc. I don't think it matters which fingers you use as long as you are consistent so that you don't get your fingers in a tiz ! Can you not do something similar to finger patterns on flute ? (sorry, I don't know flute )

Hi Fiona, yes I do that for my viola scales!

The flute fingerings aren't quite so easy though. However, I've been practising them every day this week and they're already getting easier. I guess regular practise is the key (isn't it always, lol).