Hello all,
This may seem like a silly question to be asking about, but earlier today I downloaded a programme that tells you how to play every type of scale there is on the piano. So I looked at the Standard-Ionian (Major) scale, and it shown a version that was played in thirds?

So i've tried C Major, C-E-D-F-E-G-F-A-G-B-A-C-B-D-C (then descending)

On the descending, do I play C again? as in " B-D-C, C-A ... "


Are these scales common?


Thanks for your help,
Best wishes

Robbie

I'd probably do A-C-B-D-C-A-B-G at the top then E-C-D-B-C at the bottom, although in the recorder scale book they do the equivalent of A-C-B-G at the top.

I think they're quite common (and good fun )

Not something I've ever done.
Probably something I've kept more or less to exam requirements with.

In trinity guildhall, grade 6-8 requires you to play scales similar than this. Although you have to play the thirds in chords.

so you play c+e-d+f-etc. Completely legato, hands seperately, without the pedal. It's hard. Especially the left hand.

Grade 6 requires c major (quite easy)
Grade 7 requires e major (fiendishly hard)
Grade 8 requires b major + b minor (don't even get me started, i'm fearing this).

If you, for some obscure reason, decide you want to do a challenging scale, i'd reccomend these.

I've done that in Cmajor and also as a chromatic scale in minor 3rds for AB exams.

I'll in the future be doing these exams with the AB.

I prefer the scales in third to normal scales from what i've heard. They sound alot nicer, in my opinion.


Chromatic scales in minor 3rds? Should I be worried?

It's a bit like trying to knit you fingers...

Or cast them off !

Chromatics in minor thirds are ok, when you get used to them.

Not right before the exam though, i kept getting muddled up.

The one handed version is tricky I think.
2 handed it was my previous teacher's favourite.
He use to say it made him think of rain running down a window.

I came a purler.

I think my coat's the one under yours.