01:30 C major and contrary motion 03:45 G major 04:53 D major 06:00 A major 06:15 E major 07:00 B major and parallel motion 08:50 F#/Gb major 10:10 Db major 10:50 Ab major 12:00 Eb major 12:42 Bb major 13:40 F major Contrary motion: C, G, D, A, E Parallel motion: others
@@just-nadia-and-keys Because only for those 5 scales the fingering of each key pressed will be identical. You can play in non-contrary motion but then you have to learn that usage of finger numbers at both hands when striking will typically not be the same. I think Aimee explains that relatively well at the start of the video.
This is the best lesson ever. I'm an adult learner and for 2 years everybody has told me I should / must practice scales, BUT no one, or book, ever showed me how, until now. Thanks Heaps Aimee.
@@musicandmeditation2507 .... As a beginner (for only a couple weeks), the rule I’ve learned is that each letter must only be used once in a scale. Your D major ascending is correct because you used each letter only once. Your descending is incorrect because you’ve used letters twice: Incorrect descending: D Dflat B A G Gflat E D. // D and Dflat uses the letter D twice. G and G flat uses the letter G twice. Ascending and descending uses the same lettering.
@@musicandmeditation2507 Always name the accidental according to the key signature. So in D major up and down call it C sharp and F sharp. Because in D it's two sharps. In a flat key it's named flat. in F major the B is flat. Not A sharp, so you name it B flat, up and down.
There are a LOT of videos telling: you have to practice scales, let’s crack it and so on. But this is one of FEW telling how and giving really precious advices, showing the path. THANK YOU!
Wow …this is the best lesson I’ve ever had … did 2 years as a child the rest self taught in my 50’s In the last 2 years the piano has kept me sane, you are the icing on the cake 🕊🤍 Now to binge watch all your videos 🤍
Just discovered your channel a week ago. I appreciate your obvious love of music and that you followed your dream! I'd played guitar for 35 years before I got interested in music theory. So at age 47 I started learning my major scales. I was so amazed. I would sit down to practice and before long I realized I was writing new music! There are so many ways to make it fun also.
This is gold. I already practice scales daily with various different regimens, but this will become my default warmup, right after my stretches - you got through every key in just under a minute and a half, so no matter what else I’m doing in my practice plan for the day I can make the time to “warm up” with this routine. THANKS!!!
Holy cats, I just started piano 9 days ago at 49 years young and I don’t even know the scales yet but it takes me 2 minutes just to go from C to F to G and back to C without smashing into every other piano key along the harrowingly long arduous journey across the endless keyboard. (That’s the 1-4-5 by the way! 🤠) As far as scales, I’m probably a ways away from those (thank goodness) and I’m quietly hoping (and praying) those horrible sounding black keys are just for aesthetics and not actually played.🙃 This is going to be a heck of a challenge, thank you for the inspiration! ✋🤠🤚
Aimee Nolte Music Thank You Aimee for the wonderful words of advice and encouragement, they mean so much to me! (I cannot believe I’m actually playing piano!) 😊
Incredible... have watched many videos about circle of fifths and never quite understood, somehow I landed in this video after watching completely different subjects and I totally understood now the circle of fifths... will practice your scales, thank you so very much!
11:00 Ab Major scale - I use the 4th finger in the left hand for the Db as it feels more natural, and maybe how I was taught. 12:50 Bb Major scale - I start/end the left hand with the 3rd finger, as it is symmetrical. A word on the Circle of 5ths.. I'm learning from the Mark Harrison Contemporary Theory texts and he emphasizes that the Circle of 5ths is counter-clockwise, as the C is the 5th degree of the target scale, which is F. The Circle of 4ths is clockwise, as the C is the 4th degree of the target scale, which is G. Hopefully this is the right way to think about it. Thank you for this video, and I plan to practice scales using contrary motion as well.
Aimee I just discovered you & your utube piano videos and I am beyond happy, I am delighted! You are just what i nee right now. I have you bookmarked! I want to learn more about understanding scales, chords, & improvising and you have got me started! Thank you! Eventually I'll move into music theory. It is so dry when it is only in a book, but comes to life on the keyboard.
Wow, merci beaucoup. I've been working at the piano for almost 6 weeks, and I've hit the scales, but this is THE BEST lesson for really knowing what is behind that work. I failed at the piano after a summer over 50 years ago, but now it's different. My Mom bought a piano when she was 65 and played for another 20 years. Maybe it's in the blood?
Another awesome lesson! I am a self taught guitarist and play by ear. I’m using your vids (and a couple of others) to finally learn to read ( and secretly learn piano) Thanks so much for your effort!!
I play these with various drum loops instead of a metronome. It's way more fun, plus I think it helps to practice hearing the rhythms you perform with.
Excellente vidéo... Thankyou for sharing..🙏 I've never really learned my scales... Going to register you vidéo and subscribe to your channel.. You are the teacher i need... Thankyou so much.💕
Aimee, this has inspired me so much, after a month I can now play the lot - THANK YOU!! Would love to see a follow up - maybe minor scales, or fun exercises to really get scales imprinted in the brain :)
exactly what i was looking for thanks. I was starting to read that there isn't a 'correct' way to play scales (in terms of fingering), now I can just trust what you learned.
I feel like I have been playing in the dark and someone finally turned the light on. Thanks. I can't even express how much this video has helped me to understand the piano.
Hi Aimee, enjoy your channel! Quick story about split scales.... Back in my college days, I was a music major and found out we would need to audition for the piano teachers to determine who would give us lessons. Having messed up my right hand with focal dystonia, via made up exercises, I was more than a little nervous. Anyway, we were asked to play a few scales. My piano teacher had taught me to play split scales. Before I was finished, the best instructor on staff ( I believe he competed in the Van Cliburn competition) said, 'I'll take him, he's the only person all day who has played split scales!'
Great tutorial Aimee. Discovering your FB site was like finding a gold mine. Years ago I took some piano classes at the Jazz School in Berkeley, CA (now known as California Jazz Conservatory.) Their fingering exercises puzzle me to this day, but your exercises make a hell of a lot more sense. Thank you Aimee. Much appreciated.
Thanks Aimee, I just jumped up out of bed and played C and G contrary motion; before I watched your video, I couldn't play them; played scales as a kid of course, but don't recall playing contrary, and couldn't! Now I'm on the road baby, thanks to you!! Amazing how little things make a musician happy 😘
That set of all the scales at the end was really smooth. You make it look so easy! Then I noticed a tiny little video edit between D flat and A flat.. it's comforting to know maybe we're all human after all? ;-)
Hi Aimee, I really appreciate your videos. I have learned a lot though I am not a jazz pianist. I have a couple of questions about this. 1. Why did you stop contrary motion after E Major? I've been working my way through all the major scales in contrary motion. 2. Why did you pick such a strange fingering for Bb Major? The way I learned it was: 2 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 (RH 2 octaves up and down) 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 2 1 4 3 2 1 2 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 (LH same 2 octaves up and down) That way there are no differences up and down and it feels really comfortable.
Thanks Stephen - I believe the answers to both questions are already addressed in other comments below. Let me know if they aren’t but they are good questions and you’re not the only one to ask them
Yes!!! Thankyou, thankyou! Now, I can start practicing something constructive along with my song-learning! I'm so grateful for this, you don't know how helpful you are Aimee!!!!
I need your muscle memory today. Lol Nicely done. I a trombone player by default, but I am working hard on the piano these days. Thanks for sharing a bit of your knowledge. #Grateful
Can't go wrong with this lesson. You'll use this stuff, I mean, every time you play in every single song. After a while, the scale gets to be a reflex.
This takes a great deal of humility. As an old(er) guy who has been "playing" piano for many years - I watched this video and thought, "oh, I'll just prove to myself I don't need this sort of work by slamming through these and moving on to more advanced stuff." Well, I can play the scales all right. And I can play to a metronome - you pick the speed. But my fingers become a ratsnest of errant positions. Sure, all the notes get hit in the right order at the right time. But it's all fraudulent. The wrong fingers do the wrong thing. To keep the fingering straight - I sound like I'm in 1st grade having to practice the scales before my mom will let me go out and play. I'm that bad. And it really bums me out I have to restart from this point to move forward. But really - my wife just bought me my first "real" piano (before that it was all synths and electronics) and I promised I would practice, because soon Christmas will be here and everyone expects me to play Xmas songs around the fire. (my ineptitude at foundational musicianship has me seriously considering heading to Hawaii to avoid any sort of performance...)
Don’t do too much at once. Just work on one or two scales a week. You don’t want to overwhelm yourself. Make sure you are practicing fun stuff as well. :-)
I know the feeling. I’ve played multiple instruments almost all my (middle age) life and after work demands brought me to a technique-killing 5-year break I decided to “start over” with all the technical training I lacked the discipline to excel at as a child. So I get up early, practice before I leave for work (not the end of the day when I’m tired) and make it fun. Exercises don’t have the “feel” of playing music but this mindset of making them a different activity that can be fun in and of itself - and being SUPER PRECISE - is really working for me. Like Aimee says, take it slow - and enjoy every minute of becoming closer to perfect every day. BEST TO YOU from one who can totally relate!
I've been working really hard on these scales for about two months now. I've watched a lot of "drunk Amiee", lol, but I can't believe how far I've come - thank you. Can you please do a tutorial on the minor scales? I tried watching someone else's video and I just couldn't under stand what he was saying. Thank you...Blessings!
The first thing to realize about the minor scales is that The natural minor scale is just the same as it’s relative major scale so, A natural minor is the same as C major but you start on an A.
@@AimeeNolte Wow, thank you for responding so quickly, I wasn't even sure if you would ever see my comment. So, that was the only part I understood, he lost me right after that, lol. I have learned so much from your channel and I'm so thankful for all you do.
@@AimeeNolte I woke up this morning and I think I got it. The natural minor of C major starts on A using the C scale...and that's it. The natural minor of G major starts on E using the G scale. I think I thought there was more to it because he kept going to different notes and I thought he was still showing the C minor scale.
Brilliant Aimee , thank you so much; a real incentive to keep plugging away at those scales and a revelation about contra handing the first five and why the rest are played in parallel.
Here's a way I learned (on YT) to master the major scales in 1 week each with just under 10 minutes at a time (maximum) of practice, totaling about 35 minutes across the week: do whole, half, quarter, and 8th notes at 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, and 120 bpm each. Day 1: do all 7 of each set of speeds Day 2: 60 bpm whole notes, all 7 in each of the next 3 sets (original program included 16ths too, but yours stops at the end of set 4) Day 3: 60 bpm whole/half/quarter, continue with the rest And so on!
how can one learn to play these in contrary motion and not look at the piano? I find that very tricky. is it just finger memory from doing it many times looking at ones fingers?
I'm a guitar player who's been learning piano. Two thing I don't get: 1) why treat those first 5 scales differently (contrary motion) - is it only because it make it easier? and 2) As a jazz player, I don't see why you wouldn't go with the cycle of 4ths? The 5ths thing is how the common practice period typically modulated but it seems out of place - all my jazz friends use cycle 4?
Just got the worksheet for the major scales. Obviously, as Aimee stated in the video, a thorough understanding of the major scale (in every key), and being able to play them in every key, should be considered mandatory. I'm fairly new to 'seriously' learning the piano, and I have been practicing the major scales in every key, but only did one octave, and none of the scales in contrary motion. I use to think scales were mostly about building technique, speed and dexterity - *WRONG!* Although that occurs also.
I'm not sure if I've understood one thing: why the first five scales have to be learned in contrary motion and not the other ones? I mean, it's useful as a introduction or in theory all scales should be learned also in contrary motion? And in that case, does it make any sense to play contrary motion on melodic minor scales?
This is new for me. I'm a classically trained pianist in my 5yr of lesson and with the B major scale I was taught to use the 4th finger to start the B scale with the left hand and it works well for me. The start with the thumb on the left hand is new but it works so that's great!
My Hanon has it 4 also, but 1 works indeed, it is needed in Bach at that scale all the time ;-) One useful exercise in Hanon is playing all scales with 1 and 2 fingers only in a more advanced level, it's one of the few exercises in Hanon what most teachers recommend..
hi aimeee, question to you, in A flat you start the scale with the second finger on the right hand, but then you finish the scale with the third finger on the right hand. which one is the correct technique? how many years have you been playing?? this is an inadmissible mistake for someone so beautiful. and remember, shoulders down and chest out!!!
Another way (the way I was taught) to find the sharps in the key signature, was that a half step below the scale's name is the last sharp (i.e. a half step below D is C#, so the key has F# and C#). I do see the conveniences of using the fifth, though, because you're using the circle of fifths. My teacher never used the circle of fifths, only taught us tricks (like three half steps up is the relative minor) and used the orders of the flats and sharps (BEADGCF and vise versa) to help us with scales. Band is the first time I was introduced to the circle of fifths. This is a really cool video, though! I'd never heard of doing contrary motion and it's cool to see how different we learned even with just scales.
My week is so busy, I don't have time to watch right now. But I'm hoping there's one of your awesome a cappella exercises in there for the major scales!
Thanks for a great video for beginners. You touched on hand and arm position and on proper posture, but do you have any tips for beginners on how to keep fingers and wrists relaxed?
It has to do with the pattern of white notes and black notes on the keyboard. Once you get to B major, they don’t line up anymore and it becomes much easier to play them in parallel motion.
Thanks that will help a lot. Be cool if you'd do a series of videos on "Piano as a 2nd instrument" for those of us that main instrument is . I think the term learn to play "Arrangers piano". Thanks for all the videos!!!!
Hi Aimee. Thank you for this video. I have just purchased the pdf. Do you have worksheets for the 1st six major scales in parallel motion as well. And the minor scales as well. Could you also explain why the first 6 should be practised in contrary motion and the rest in parallel motion please.
As I said in the video, the first six scales do not have the same fingering in parallel motion but the last six do. I much prefer to have beginners practice in symmetry. Thanks for picking up the worksheet!
Hello Aimee, I play guitar, I can use the same principle of circle 5ths to practice the major scales !? Will there be any other more efficient way for guitarist... thanks 😊
Yes, you can. However, I would recommend watching a video specifically about playing major scales on your guitar or pay somebody to take one lesson. Learning your major scales will help you immensely no matter which instrument you are on.
Hi Aimee! Like your stuff. BUT the left hand fingering for Ab and Bb is not the same when you first explain as in the end when you're playing all the scales fast. I'm not classically trained, but the fingering you use in the end makes much more sense to me
I’m a completely self taught keyboard player. I originally figured out all the 12 major keys on my own cuz I saw the patterns. But I only recently learned the correct fingerings on all 12 keys. Since I’m primarily a chord and arpeggio player, I was able to get away with this. However, I’ve always suffered when trying to play melodies or sight read until now. Although I can easily do 2 octaves with my right hand correctly, my left hand lags quite a bit. This clip helps a great deal in figuring out exercises that should eventually get my left hand up to speed. Thank you.
Do you ever practise, say, the major scale with one hand and the relative minor with the other? Or any other ways of creating more harmony while practising scales?
That would sound really bad but if you can do it, go for it! I think it’s great to look for creative ways to practice. I start my left hand on the root and my right on the third and play major scales with both hands in harmony and that’s fun
the reason for the change from contrary motion to parallel is because...? Limitation of keyboard space? I only have a 61 key controller anyway. Maybe one day a full keyboard. My tastes exceed my budget currently.
If you look at this video ruclips.net/video/JagyzoLwPXQ/видео.html then you see that you only need major scales, at least for a long time, because you can play the minor and many other scales by playing major scales!
I've been doing my scales with four octaves up, then two octaves down, then contrary motion (L two more down, R back up), then reverse, then both down two more. I follow this with a four octave arpeggio based on the root of the key, then a V-I. I've been doing this in all twelve keys, and it takes a lot longer than your method. Do you think this is a waste of time? I haven't touched minor scales at all.
Sounds very classical approach, one of my early classical piano teachers had the exactly same method. I had only played about 3 yrs of piano at that stage and it was a bit much at the time for me.. Me not ever being any 'prodigy' now as a returning adult student I took the 'beginner' style of learning only 2 octaves first and only after getting that to a decent level I transitioned to the more advanced methods even thirds apart.. (and sometimes starting one octave lower or higher or 2 octaves apart) Sounds like you have a good skill in listening how you sound, very good! btw If you haven't done chromatic scale in contrary motion starting from the same note, it's the easiest chromatic scale in my opinion and featured in some of the easier classical grade exams.. I think 10 mins of exercises done with quality is time well spent.. At the intermediate level I'd be very careful not to practice technical exercises too long in a row, one book suggested only adding max 5% practice time in a week due to increased health risks..
I just checked if my own fingering is correct, and yes it is, when I follow your playing of all the scales at the end of the video. In your explanations, however you use different (a bit unnatural) fingerings for Ab and Bb in the left hand.
Yeaah Bb was especially weird with the left hand going up... When she came down, it was what it "should be" both ways. There's probably no "right or wrong" in this, but IMO this way is a tad confusing since they aren't the same. Bb and Ab left hand both "should" be: 321-4321-3 going up and reversed exactly going down. That way they are both the same and not confusingly different on the way down as well. Also, it doesn't feel as awkward IMO. But yeah maybe there's some time when this way makes more sense? dunno....
Yet another great session, neatly organised warm-up, and some real insight. Right hand fingering in CGDAE and even B is just 123 1234 123 1234 5. Nice, really nice! The six remaining scales each have fingerings of their own, and thus must be played in drunk Aimiee mode for a quite while. This might explain why some keyboard players hate the flat major keys and others switch to guitars, button accordions or even drums, where every scale looks and feels the same in any key. What a relief it would be to have a piano that could transpose a semitone up or down by pressing a pedal :-)
01:30 C major and contrary motion
03:45 G major
04:53 D major
06:00 A major
06:15 E major
07:00 B major and parallel motion
08:50 F#/Gb major
10:10 Db major
10:50 Ab major
12:00 Eb major
12:42 Bb major
13:40 F major
Contrary motion: C, G, D, A, E
Parallel motion: others
Enjoyable teaching
The you
Why should we learn C, G, D, A, E in contrary motion and others in parallel motion??
@@GauravGupta-xg8kt I would also like to know
Thank you for this table of content as very helpful.
@@just-nadia-and-keys Because only for those 5 scales the fingering of each key pressed will be identical. You can play in non-contrary motion but then you have to learn that usage of finger numbers at both hands when striking will typically not be the same. I think Aimee explains that relatively well at the start of the video.
This is the best lesson ever. I'm an adult learner and for 2 years everybody has told me I should / must practice scales, BUT no one, or book, ever showed me how, until now. Thanks Heaps Aimee.
+Geoff Montgomery you're just the guys I was trying to help, Geoff. I'm so glad. 🙌🏼
Nope, they stay sharped. F# and C# stays # whether you're going up or down the major scale.:)
@@musicandmeditation2507 .... As a beginner (for only a couple weeks), the rule I’ve learned is that each letter must only be used once in a scale. Your D major ascending is correct because you used each letter only once. Your descending is incorrect because you’ve used letters twice: Incorrect descending: D Dflat B A G Gflat E D. // D and Dflat uses the letter D twice. G and G flat uses the letter G twice. Ascending and descending uses the same lettering.
Wished I could have learned this in class piano back in the day. Nice work!
@@musicandmeditation2507 Always name the accidental according to the key signature. So in D major up and down call it C sharp and F sharp. Because in D it's two sharps. In a flat key it's named flat. in F major the B is flat. Not A sharp, so you name it B flat, up and down.
There are a LOT of videos telling: you have to practice scales, let’s crack it and so on. But this is one of FEW telling how and giving really precious advices, showing the path. THANK YOU!
Aimee I hope you realize how much your videos are appreciated. Thank you.
Wow …this is the best lesson I’ve ever had … did 2 years as a child the rest self taught in my 50’s
In the last 2 years the piano has kept me sane, you are the icing on the cake 🕊🤍
Now to binge watch all your videos 🤍
Just discovered your channel a week ago. I appreciate your obvious love of music and that you followed your dream!
I'd played guitar for 35 years before I got interested in music theory. So at age 47 I started learning my major scales. I was so amazed. I would sit down to practice and before long I realized I was writing new music!
There are so many ways to make it fun also.
This is gold. I already practice scales daily with various different regimens, but this will become my default warmup, right after my stretches - you got through every key in just under a minute and a half, so no matter what else I’m doing in my practice plan for the day I can make the time to “warm up” with this routine. THANKS!!!
Yes, slickrock, this will take me a long time to perfect, but once I do, it will take less than 2 minutes to do all the scales.
Holy cats, I just started piano 9 days ago at 49 years young and I don’t even know the scales yet but it takes me 2 minutes just to go from C to F to G and back to C without smashing into every other piano key along the harrowingly long arduous journey across the endless keyboard. (That’s the 1-4-5 by the way! 🤠)
As far as scales, I’m probably a ways away from those (thank goodness) and I’m quietly hoping (and praying) those horrible sounding black keys are just for aesthetics and not actually played.🙃
This is going to be a heck of a challenge, thank you for the inspiration! ✋🤠🤚
Just work on one at a time! Don’t move on until your fully comfortable with the one you’re on. You got this!
Aimee Nolte Music Thank You Aimee for the wonderful words of advice and encouragement, they mean so much to me! (I cannot believe I’m actually playing piano!) 😊
You are a very charming woman and a good teachter with useful tipps. I am an old german and learning piano.
Thank You very much!
Incredible... have watched many videos about circle of fifths and never quite understood, somehow I landed in this video after watching completely different subjects and I totally understood now the circle of fifths... will practice your scales, thank you so very much!
Now that's what I call an excellent teacher!
11:00 Ab Major scale - I use the 4th finger in the left hand for the Db as it feels more natural, and maybe how I was taught.
12:50 Bb Major scale - I start/end the left hand with the 3rd finger, as it is symmetrical.
A word on the Circle of 5ths.. I'm learning from the Mark Harrison Contemporary Theory texts and he emphasizes that the Circle of 5ths is counter-clockwise, as the C is the 5th degree of the target scale, which is F. The Circle of 4ths is clockwise, as the C is the 4th degree of the target scale, which is G. Hopefully this is the right way to think about it.
Thank you for this video, and I plan to practice scales using contrary motion as well.
Aimee I just discovered you & your utube piano videos and I am beyond happy, I am delighted! You are just what i nee right now. I have you bookmarked! I want to learn more about understanding scales, chords, & improvising and you have got me started! Thank you! Eventually I'll move into music theory. It is so dry when it is only in a book, but comes to life on the keyboard.
Wow, merci beaucoup. I've been working at the piano for almost 6 weeks, and I've hit the scales, but this is THE BEST lesson for really knowing what is behind that work. I failed at the piano after a summer over 50 years ago, but now it's different. My Mom bought a piano when she was 65 and played for another 20 years. Maybe it's in the blood?
Another awesome lesson! I am a self taught guitarist and play by ear. I’m using your vids (and a couple of others) to finally learn to read ( and secretly learn piano) Thanks so much for your effort!!
Thank you so much for your donation! What a great surprise! I’m so glad you are learning and that my videos have been helpful.
You're good at what you do; thanks for taking the trouble to explain and demonstrate
I play these with various drum loops instead of a metronome. It's way more fun, plus I think it helps to practice hearing the rhythms you perform with.
same. try odd time beats, its pretty wild for practicing scales or licks
This is a win, win. For a long time I've been told to practice my scales, and also that the circle of 5ths is very important. I'm getting it.
You are the best music teacher. Thank you so much Madam 💐💐💐👌👌👌👍👍👍🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
As you follow remember that she took 10 years to master these. Take your time.
@Maafa 1619 No one gives a shit sherlock, his point is to be patient and take time.
Excellente vidéo...
Thankyou for sharing..🙏
I've never really learned my scales...
Going to register you vidéo and subscribe to your channel..
You are the teacher i need...
Thankyou so much.💕
Aimee, this has inspired me so much, after a month I can now play the lot - THANK YOU!! Would love to see a follow up - maybe minor scales, or fun exercises to really get scales imprinted in the brain :)
exactly what i was looking for thanks. I was starting to read that there isn't a 'correct' way to play scales (in terms of fingering), now I can just trust what you learned.
Genius lesson.Thanks Ian and Aimee
I feel like I have been playing in the dark and someone finally turned the light on. Thanks. I can't even express how much this video has helped me to understand the piano.
Hi Aimee, enjoy your channel!
Quick story about split scales....
Back in my college days, I was a music major and found out we would need to audition for the piano teachers to determine who would give us lessons.
Having messed up my right hand with focal dystonia, via made up exercises, I was more than a little nervous.
Anyway, we were asked to play a few scales. My piano teacher had taught me to play split scales.
Before I was finished, the best instructor on staff ( I believe he competed in the Van Cliburn competition) said, 'I'll take him, he's the only person all day who has played split scales!'
What are split scales?
Thank you, i'm a guirarist learning piano. This help so much
Me too
Put both thumbs on middle c and go 2 octaves with 3-4-3-5 fingering. This is great!!! Thanks.
excellent video. At last somebody talks about what interests piano students. Oh, and I liked your pause when you said, chest out...
People, support this great teacher! Buy her worksheets! (This an unsolicited endorsement. :-)
YOU ARE TEACHING AND NOT JUST POSTING ANOTHER MUSIC VIDEO. YOU AN IMAGINARY STUDENT.
VISUALISATION AT WORK. WAW GREAT. DON'T LEAVE.
Great tutorial Aimee. Discovering your FB site was like finding a gold mine. Years ago I took some piano classes at the Jazz School in Berkeley, CA (now known as California Jazz Conservatory.) Their fingering exercises puzzle me to this day, but your exercises make a hell of a lot more sense. Thank you Aimee. Much appreciated.
Thanks Aimee, I just jumped up out of bed and played C and G contrary motion; before I watched your video, I couldn't play them; played scales as a kid of course, but don't recall playing contrary, and couldn't! Now I'm on the road baby, thanks to you!! Amazing how little things make a musician happy 😘
+Sally Sigler go git em, Sally
That set of all the scales at the end was really smooth. You make it look so easy! Then I noticed a tiny little video edit between D flat and A flat.. it's comforting to know maybe we're all human after all? ;-)
This is brilliant, Aimee! Simple and well explained! 🎹 #ForwardMotion
Thanks! just what I needed. Just today I promised myself I would improve my scales by practicing them first for 20 minutes before I do anything else!
Best lesson ever on practising scales. You are a gem, may God bless you.
You are good
Hi Aimee,
I really appreciate your videos. I have learned a lot though I am not a jazz pianist. I have a couple of questions about this.
1. Why did you stop contrary motion after E Major? I've been working my way through all the major scales in contrary motion.
2. Why did you pick such a strange fingering for Bb Major? The way I learned it was:
2 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 (RH 2 octaves up and down)
3 2 1 4 3 2 1 2 1 4 3 2 1 2 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 (LH same 2 octaves up and down) That way there are no differences up and down and it feels really comfortable.
Thanks Stephen - I believe the answers to both questions are already addressed in other comments below. Let me know if they aren’t but they are good questions and you’re not the only one to ask them
Yes!!! Thankyou, thankyou! Now, I can start practicing something constructive along with my song-learning! I'm so grateful for this, you don't know how helpful you are Aimee!!!!
+Damon Jellicoe i'm so glad you liked it, Damon. Good luck in your practicing!
Thanks, I bought the worksheet, mainly to support your efforts, your channel is massively inspiring, keep it up!!! :)
I need your muscle memory today. Lol Nicely done. I a trombone player by default, but I am working hard on the piano these days. Thanks for sharing a bit of your knowledge. #Grateful
Can't go wrong with this lesson. You'll use this stuff, I mean, every time you play in every single song. After a while, the scale gets to be a reflex.
Fun to find your channel thanks to a recommendation by Susan Staples Bell! Great video!
the whole video at half speed REALLY sounds like "Drunk Aimee" (or half-asleep Aimee). So relaxing haha
Jen Pies nice keytar my dude
Thank you Aimée !! i love these "simple to understand"lessons for stranger-beginners!!
This is exactly what I needed! Thank you.
This takes a great deal of humility. As an old(er) guy who has been "playing" piano for many years - I watched this video and thought, "oh, I'll just prove to myself I don't need this sort of work by slamming through these and moving on to more advanced stuff." Well, I can play the scales all right. And I can play to a metronome - you pick the speed. But my fingers become a ratsnest of errant positions. Sure, all the notes get hit in the right order at the right time. But it's all fraudulent. The wrong fingers do the wrong thing. To keep the fingering straight - I sound like I'm in 1st grade having to practice the scales before my mom will let me go out and play. I'm that bad. And it really bums me out I have to restart from this point to move forward. But really - my wife just bought me my first "real" piano (before that it was all synths and electronics) and I promised I would practice, because soon Christmas will be here and everyone expects me to play Xmas songs around the fire. (my ineptitude at foundational musicianship has me seriously considering heading to Hawaii to avoid any sort of performance...)
Don’t do too much at once. Just work on one or two scales a week. You don’t want to overwhelm yourself. Make sure you are practicing fun stuff as well. :-)
I know the feeling. I’ve played multiple instruments almost all my (middle age) life and after work demands brought me to a technique-killing 5-year break I decided to “start over” with all the technical training I lacked the discipline to excel at as a child. So I get up early, practice before I leave for work (not the end of the day when I’m tired) and make it fun. Exercises don’t have the “feel” of playing music but this mindset of making them a different activity that can be fun in and of itself - and being SUPER PRECISE - is really working for me. Like Aimee says, take it slow - and enjoy every minute of becoming closer to perfect every day. BEST TO YOU from one who can totally relate!
I've been working really hard on these scales for about two months now. I've watched a lot of "drunk Amiee", lol, but I can't believe how far I've come - thank you. Can you please do a tutorial on the minor scales? I tried watching someone else's video and I just couldn't under stand what he was saying. Thank you...Blessings!
The first thing to realize about the minor scales is that The natural minor scale is just the same as it’s relative major scale so, A natural minor is the same as C major but you start on an A.
@@AimeeNolte Wow, thank you for responding so quickly, I wasn't even sure if you would ever see my comment. So, that was the only part I understood, he lost me right after that, lol. I have learned so much from your channel and I'm so thankful for all you do.
@@AimeeNolte I woke up this morning and I think I got it. The natural minor of C major starts on A using the C scale...and that's it. The natural minor of G major starts on E using the G scale. I think I thought there was more to it because he kept going to different notes and I thought he was still showing the C minor scale.
How to practice major scales. Stream yourself practicing weird exercises for 5 hours on bass.
Thanks Adam
Ascending, descending, ascending, descending, ascending, descending, ascending, descending...
I HATE 3rd inversion
Brilliant Aimee , thank you so much; a real incentive to keep plugging away at those scales and a revelation about contra handing the first five and why the rest are played in parallel.
i see that you are a man of culture as well
spent the whole day going through these and my head is now about to explode. I missed the bit where you say you do one at a time and then progress :)
Here's a way I learned (on YT) to master the major scales in 1 week each with just under 10 minutes at a time (maximum) of practice, totaling about 35 minutes across the week:
do whole, half, quarter, and 8th notes at 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, and 120 bpm each.
Day 1: do all 7 of each set of speeds
Day 2: 60 bpm whole notes, all 7 in each of the next 3 sets (original program included 16ths too, but yours stops at the end of set 4)
Day 3: 60 bpm whole/half/quarter, continue with the rest
And so on!
Very helpful video! Thank you!
thank you so much never of contrary scales more fun this way
Great lesson, I loved It. Thanks.
I just started learning major scales on the piano so this was perfect timing thank you!
How come we do contrary motion for some and parallel motion for others ? Why not both for all keys ?
how can one learn to play these in contrary motion and not look at the piano? I find that very tricky. is it just finger memory from doing it many times looking at ones fingers?
Thanks Madam! Nice lessons!!!
I'm a guitar player who's been learning piano. Two thing I don't get: 1) why treat those first 5 scales differently (contrary motion) - is it only because it make it easier? and 2) As a jazz player, I don't see why you wouldn't go with the cycle of 4ths? The 5ths thing is how the common practice period typically modulated but it seems out of place - all my jazz friends use cycle 4?
2 - you can always go backwards around the circle and I most often do
1- it’s the way I was taught. That’s it. :)
You were well taught, you had great teachers, of course you're very talented of course! I enjoy your videos keep up the good work!
of course she will, of course
Just got the worksheet for the major scales. Obviously, as Aimee stated in the video, a thorough understanding of the major scale (in every key), and being able to play them in every key, should be considered mandatory. I'm fairly new to 'seriously' learning the piano, and I have been practicing the major scales in every key, but only did one octave, and none of the scales in contrary motion. I use to think scales were mostly about building technique, speed and dexterity - *WRONG!* Although that occurs also.
I'm not sure if I've understood one thing: why the first five scales have to be learned in contrary motion and not the other ones? I mean, it's useful as a introduction or in theory all scales should be learned also in contrary motion? And in that case, does it make any sense to play contrary motion on melodic minor scales?
Thank you so much
Why on Ab descending on the right hand the last finger ends on 3 and not where it started from (2), is there a particular reason?
I guess it’s just the way I prefer. You could start on 3 for sure…thumb needs to go on F though, so that sets up 2 of G and 3 for Ab
Bb Major Left Hand: Why not keeping the 3rd finger on Bb instead of 4?
This is new for me. I'm a classically trained pianist in my 5yr of lesson and with the B major scale I was taught to use the 4th finger to start the B scale with the left hand and it works well for me. The start with the thumb on the left hand is new but it works so that's great!
My Hanon has it 4 also, but 1 works indeed, it is needed in Bach at that scale all the time ;-) One useful exercise in Hanon is playing all scales with 1 and 2 fingers only in a more advanced level, it's one of the few exercises in Hanon what most teachers recommend..
hi aimeee, question to you, in A flat you start the scale with the second finger on the right hand, but then you finish the scale with the third finger on the right hand. which one is the correct technique? how many years have you been playing?? this is an inadmissible mistake for someone so beautiful. and remember, shoulders down and chest out!!!
I should’ve started with a three for sure. Don’t be mad tho. ;)
Superb Teacher. I always learn something new from your "beginner " lessons AND your "advanced " lessons. Thank you so very much.🇦🇺🎹
Another way (the way I was taught) to find the sharps in the key signature, was that a half step below the scale's name is the last sharp (i.e. a half step below D is C#, so the key has F# and C#). I do see the conveniences of using the fifth, though, because you're using the circle of fifths. My teacher never used the circle of fifths, only taught us tricks (like three half steps up is the relative minor) and used the orders of the flats and sharps (BEADGCF and vise versa) to help us with scales. Band is the first time I was introduced to the circle of fifths.
This is a really cool video, though! I'd never heard of doing contrary motion and it's cool to see how different we learned even with just scales.
🤠 wow , great lesson
awsome tip, one scale at a time until u master it then to the next one
My week is so busy, I don't have time to watch right now. But I'm hoping there's one of your awesome a cappella exercises in there for the major scales!
+Jack Pryor sorry Jack, it's much simpler than that this time. I need to teach the piano players the very basics! Thanks for your support. :-)
You always have my support Aimee
Hey You Good Morning! AWESOME video Aimee! Thanks!
Thanks for a great video for beginners. You touched on hand and arm position and on proper posture, but do you have any tips for beginners on how to keep fingers and wrists relaxed?
Hey, Aimee. Is there a specific reason for doing parallel motion starting from B major instead of contrary motion? Thanks
I think because it’s easier when you’re starting on a black key.
Why do you do the first five opposing and then the rest together? Didn’t hear they why in the video.
It has to do with the pattern of white notes and black notes on the keyboard. Once you get to B major, they don’t line up anymore and it becomes much easier to play them in parallel motion.
you are an amazing teacher....
I cant get your scales sheets love listening to you
Is this technique going from in to out also for minor?
Watch the piano yoga videos I have about minor scales
Thanks that will help a lot. Be cool if you'd do a series of videos on "Piano as a 2nd instrument" for those of us that main instrument is . I think the term learn to play "Arrangers piano". Thanks for all the videos!!!!
✨✨🌼🌞🌼✨✨Beautiful brilliant insight thank you and Happy summer solstice ✨✨🌼🍋🌞🍋🌼✨✨
Excellent ... soon I will be one with my Brown scale book! Thanks.
I was wondering why do you use the first 5 fingering from the root position?
For the first five scales, the fingering is identical in contrary motion for both hands.
@@AimeeNolte thanks 🙏🏻
Hi Aimee. Thank you for this video. I have just purchased the pdf. Do you have worksheets for the 1st six major scales in parallel motion as well. And the minor scales as well. Could you also explain why the first 6 should be practised in contrary motion and the rest in parallel motion please.
As I said in the video, the first six scales do not have the same fingering in parallel motion but the last six do. I much prefer to have beginners practice in symmetry. Thanks for picking up the worksheet!
Hello Aimee, I play guitar, I can use the same principle of circle 5ths to practice the major scales !? Will there be any other more efficient way for guitarist...
thanks 😊
Yes, you can. However, I would recommend watching a video specifically about playing major scales on your guitar or pay somebody to take one lesson. Learning your major scales will help you immensely no matter which instrument you are on.
whats the point of of 5 contrary motion scales and 7 not? shouldnt one learn contrary and parallel on all scales?
You can read the comments to see what others think. This is simply the first way that I was taught and the easiest way I know to get people started
@@AimeeNolte I see, i guess ill work with both variants.
Hi Aimee!
Like your stuff. BUT the left hand fingering for Ab and Bb is not the same when you first explain as in the end when you're playing all the scales fast. I'm not classically trained, but the fingering you use in the end makes much more sense to me
+Apan Albert I’m mad at myself for that. I think I went with the fingering at the end in my worksheet. So sorry
I’m a completely self taught keyboard player. I originally figured out all the 12 major keys on my own cuz I saw the patterns. But I only recently learned the correct fingerings on all 12 keys. Since I’m primarily a chord and arpeggio player, I was able to get away with this. However, I’ve always suffered when trying to play melodies or sight read until now.
Although I can easily do 2 octaves with my right hand correctly, my left hand lags quite a bit. This clip helps a great deal in figuring out exercises that should eventually get my left hand up to speed. Thank you.
Do you ever practise, say, the major scale with one hand and the relative minor with the other? Or any other ways of creating more harmony while practising scales?
That would sound really bad but if you can do it, go for it! I think it’s great to look for creative ways to practice. I start my left hand on the root and my right on the third and play major scales with both hands in harmony and that’s fun
@@AimeeNolte "I've learnt do much from making mistakes, I'm thinking of making a few more!"
the reason for the change from contrary motion to parallel is because...? Limitation of keyboard space? I only have a 61 key controller anyway. Maybe one day a full keyboard. My tastes exceed my budget currently.
Keys finger notes sharps flat audio visual mirrors crescendos decresendo left right, what what , you know I think I’m getting it
You are great! Thank you so much!
Do you recommend learning the natural, harmonic and melodic minor scales as well?
+Brian Greendahl yes, but first, this. 😃
If you look at this video
ruclips.net/video/JagyzoLwPXQ/видео.html
then you see that you only need major scales, at least for a long time, because you can play the minor and many other scales by playing major scales!
I've been doing my scales with four octaves up, then two octaves down, then contrary motion (L two more down, R back up), then reverse, then both down two more. I follow this with a four octave arpeggio based on the root of the key, then a V-I. I've been doing this in all twelve keys, and it takes a lot longer than your method. Do you think this is a waste of time? I haven't touched minor scales at all.
Sounds very classical approach, one of my early classical piano teachers had the exactly same method. I had only played about 3 yrs of piano at that stage and it was a bit much at the time for me.. Me not ever being any 'prodigy' now as a returning adult student I took the 'beginner' style of learning only 2 octaves first and only after getting that to a decent level I transitioned to the more advanced methods even thirds apart.. (and sometimes starting one octave lower or higher or 2 octaves apart) Sounds like you have a good skill in listening how you sound, very good! btw If you haven't done chromatic scale in contrary motion starting from the same note, it's the easiest chromatic scale in my opinion and featured in some of the easier classical grade exams.. I think 10 mins of exercises done with quality is time well spent.. At the intermediate level I'd be very careful not to practice technical exercises too long in a row, one book suggested only adding max 5% practice time in a week due to increased health risks..
I just checked if my own fingering is correct, and yes it is, when I follow your playing of all the scales at the end of the video.
In your explanations, however you use different (a bit unnatural) fingerings for Ab and Bb in the left hand.
Yeaah Bb was especially weird with the left hand going up... When she came down, it was what it "should be" both ways. There's probably no "right or wrong" in this, but IMO this way is a tad confusing since they aren't the same. Bb and Ab left hand both "should" be: 321-4321-3 going up and reversed exactly going down. That way they are both the same and not confusingly different on the way down as well. Also, it doesn't feel as awkward IMO. But yeah maybe there's some time when this way makes more sense? dunno....
Why is it that when playing the Gb scale, note 4 is referred to as Cb and not B?
Watch my video about how to build and notate scales and chords and I believe it will make sense to you after that.
Because there is already a "Bb" in the Gb scale and you only can use each letter name once so you can't say "B".
Thankyou
thank you so much for your lessons you're a lovely person
The link for the worksheet has an error, is there a different link to the pdf?
It works now. So sorry for the hold up. Server problems.
Yet another great session, neatly organised warm-up, and some real insight. Right hand fingering in CGDAE and even B is just 123 1234 123 1234 5. Nice, really nice! The six remaining scales each have fingerings of their own, and thus must be played in drunk Aimiee mode for a quite while. This might explain why some keyboard players hate the flat major keys and others switch to guitars, button accordions or even drums, where every scale looks and feels the same in any key. What a relief it would be to have a piano that could transpose a semitone up or down by pressing a pedal :-)
Very helpful video Aimee! Thank you! :)