Hi,
In Grade 8 ABRSM exam, in the scales and arpeggios part, it is required to play the following:

Chromatic scale legato only, with each hand separately, in minor thirds beginning on A#/C# (two octaves).

I am asking about the recommended fingering for both hand as i am confused between different fingering choices

Thanks,

Both finger patterns in the scale book will be accepted so choose the one you find easiest.

Personally I find the fingering where you have to slide from 3&2 to 4&2 the best (sliding finger 2 from a black note off onto a white note), but it's probably worth trying out both and seeing which you find better. If the AB prints too sets of fingering it is because both are good and both are viable alternatives so it's then up to you to choose which suits you best.

I learnt the other finger pattern CD!

Same! I find the sliding ones a bit awkward with both chromatic and the normal ones in thirds. I find that mine arent quite legato but according to my teacher they can never be perfect legato.

Me too, Partly it was the one my teacher taught me and partly that the fingering seens to be easier to make sense of with using 5 and 3 only in two different places each octave.

They can be perfectly smooth if you use the sliding-second-finger fingering.

Who cares? Anybody able to name a piece that has a two octave ascending and descending chromatic scale in minor thirds for the lh in the whole of the piano repertoire? Or the rh, to make the challenge easier.

I have an extensive repertoire and cannot offhand think of any chromatic scale in thirds in either hand.

This ludicrous exercise is just another example of the AB and their scales-for-their-own-sake approach to piano playing.

Steve

The accompaniment to the Weber Grand Duo Concertant for clarinet and piano.

Solo piano, can't think either.

Fraid not, Neil. Nice try, but this piece is also in my repertoire, although from more than 10 years ago.

The runs in thirds you refer to are not chromatic minor thirds - they are runs in the key of Eb in the third movement. It is also perfectly easy to play them with both hands - my solutions.

Mind you, I once saw Kathryn Stott play them all with her rh so she didn't have to blur the harmonies in order to allow the chord to sound for the whole bar.

They are two octave scales in thirds, not chromatic minor thirds - a different proposition altogether.

Steve

Liszt's rigoletto paraphrase does have a descending chromatic scale in minor thirds in the right hand. Not sure of the bar numbers though.....
Only one I can think of right now

Excellent find - on page 9 of the download from sheetmusicarchive.net.

Still not two octaves descending and ascending, though Or the left hand

Not even Chopin found it necessary to include one of these in his studies. Strange that the AB insist on it when the foremost compsers of all time have not.

Steve

But if some composer ever does write this pattern, you'll be well prepared!

Any budding composers feel up to volunteering for that one?