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How to Play a B Aeolian Scale on Piano

by Contributing Writer

  • Overview

    Learning to play a B Aeolian scale requires that you master a couple of awkward finger crossings and keep your wrist slightly raised off of the keyboard at all times. B Aeolian is the sixth mode of D major. It has two sharps (F#, C#) and shares its key signature with B major. You must play two black keys and five white keys, forcing your fingers to stay well curled as you ascend and descend. The majority of practice time on this scale should be given to increasing speed and agility.
 

  • Step 1

    Practice with your right hand first. Place your thumb on B4 to begin. Ascend a minor third interval through B, C# and D natural. Bring your thumb under your middle finger to E4. Ascend the remaining perfect fifth interval through E, F#, G, A and B natural. Your pinkie finger should be last to touch B5, one octave higher than the first pitch. As you approach the top of the octave, keep your elbow pointed slightly to the right to increase the speed of the upcoming octave turn.

  • Step 2

    Descend the B Aeolian scale with your right hand. Beginning with your pinkie finger on B5, descend a perfect fifth interval through B, A, G, F# and E natural. Cross your middle finger over your thumb to D4. Descend the last minor third interval of the scale through the notes D, C# and B natural. As you make this last finger crossing, keep your wrist elevated off of the keyboard to compensate for the wide perfect fourth interval.

  • Step 3

    Practice with your left hand only. Place your ring finger on B3 to start. Ascend a perfect fourth interval through B, C#, D and E natural. Cross your ring finger over your thumb to F#3. Ascend the remaining perfect fourth interval though the notes F3, G, A and B natural. Your thumb should land on B4 before you stop, exactly one octave higher than the first B pitch class.

  • Step 4

    Descend the B Aeolian scale with your left hand. Beginning with your thumb on B4, descend a perfect fourth interval through B, A, G and F3. Bring your thumb under your ring finger to E3. Descend the final perfect fourth interval through E, D, C# and B natural. Your ring finger should now be on B3, the same pitch with which you started.

  • Step 5

    Practice the B Aeolian scale with both hands at the same time. Start your practice session at a tempo of no more than 80 beats per minute. Slowly increase the tempo to no more than 185 beats per minute.
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