Just one more thing:

The scales in contrary motion, there is group 1 and group 2. What is the difference? Is on easier?

Well, the only difference is that they are different scales. It doesn't really matter which you choose; they are both meant to be the same difficulty. If you have trouble with a specific scale or something, choose the group that doesn't have that scale in it. For your info, I did Group 1. The only one that threw me was C# minor and F minor, but with practice they come quite naturally. So unless you have a particular weakness in a scale, there shouldn't be any difference.

No, IMO, but I think one or the other (haven't got the list in front of me) has more that start on black keys, but the other one's extra white no start is more complex. Um. Clear as mud? But no, I think they're both equally easy/hard unless for some reason you have a mental block over any and/or find any of them especially easy for some reason.

group one by far, F# minor and B flat minor are HORRIBLY difficult

i must agree with you on that, it was only until the day of my exam when i actually managed to do C#minor and F minor correctly and fluently...fortunately i was only asked F major so it was all good...still messed that up

Nah, they aren't. Just takes practice. Neither group is hugely easier than the other. Otherwise there wouldnt BE two groups, because everyone would choose the easy one! F#/Bb minor contrary are no more awkward than F minor - in fact I think F minor took me longer to crack. If a person has a mental block or whatever over one of the scales, then they should do the other group, but they're the same. And take into account that although F# minor may not be the easiest contrary, to counter that F# major is fine. The first group is *apparently* easier when you first look at them - no brainer, two "black note" scales rather than one - but there's really no difference in difficulty unless one of those scales is a particular problem for a particular pianist.

Personally I intend to polish both groups and then pick one nearer the time: learning extra scales never did anyone any harm!

lol, that's what I did... when i got bored with the scales (grade 3 at the time) that I was learning, I just started working my way through the syllabus. first I learned both groups at grade 5, eventually I ended up learning all the majors & harmonic minors contrary as well as similar motion! I really need to get a life anyway opinions will be divided ( ) as to whether it helps my playing, but it was satisfying... if I could take grade 6 piano scales along with grade 6 flute pieces and sight-reading, I'd be on to a winner...

I admire some peoples dedication to scales here. I ended up just picking a group (probably the one with C Major in it, I can't remember) and running with it. They're both pretty much the same difficulty, so unless you have a HUGE difficulty with one scale, don't agonise over the decision.

I'm learning group one and was going along ok until I reached F minor ! But yes, it's coming with practice. These will need even more preparation than usual for me, as I completely bungled them in my grade 4......oh, the shame....

Yeah, F minor is an awkward one. But if you stick with it, it'll come. You'll just have to have some practice.

You're quite a keen scale player then! The first thing I did when I started piano (because we didn't have any music of the right level and weren't near a music shop) was learn all the white-note major and minor scales hands together (and separately of course). I wouldn't reccomend this as a starting strategy to teachers though: unless the pupil is very keen (as I was) it could well put them off! Still it meant that I didn't have to work as hard on scales as I would have done later on .


I had a problem with Ab/G# major and minor: if I started playing the minor I ended up playing the major half way through and then remembering and getting back to the minor again. Guess what happened in the exam...quite an interesting scale with some octaves minor and some major, fluent and even though !

Well, scales I can DO on the piano. It's the pieces I find hard!

When I restarted piano lessons, I learned all the grade 2 3 and 4 scales (the old syllabus because that was the book I had!), then got bored and learned all the white note major scales, then all the minors, then all the black note majors, then minors, then went on to melodic minors, then went on to chromatic scales in minor thirds hands together, then did all the majors and harmonic minors contrary motion, THEN learned all the chromatic scales contrary motion. Then started to learn them in 3rds... Then I slowed down a bit! (quelle surprise!)

Basically I don't find scales nearly as hard on the piano as on everything else, and not as hard as I find piano pieces, so when I was struggling with pieces (not serious "I will never be able to play even a grade 1 piece" struggling, but not learning as quickly as I'd've liked, and my technique (or lack thereof!) stopping me from playing as musically as I'd've liked), scales gave me a medium where I could learn something new and improve it and get good, even if my pieces were a bit pants. And I DO find that knowing all the scales has helped me, so that's good! But yeah. I like scales on the piano. Mostly cos I can do 'em!