Scale and Arpeggio Fingerings

Scales

1) “C Major” fingering:

C, G, D, A, E Major and c, g, d, a, e minor:

RH: 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5

LH: 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 3 2 1

2) *F Major and f minor:

RH: 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 1

LH: 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 (normal C Major fingering)

3) *b minor:

RH: 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 (normal C Major fingering)

LH: 1 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 4 3 2 1

4) Find all the groups of consecutive white notes (this may mean playing more than one

octave). RH thumb goes on the first white note of each white-note group (ascending); LH

thumb goes on last white note of each white-note group (ascending).

Bb Major:

RH: 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 4

LH: 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 3

Eb Major:

RH: 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3

LH: 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 3

*eb minor:

RH: 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3

LH: 2 1 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 3 2 (an exception to the rule is made here by putting the LH thumb on Cb, the first white note of that group)

*bb minor:

RH: 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 (an exception to the rule is made here by putting RH 3 on the A natural)

LH: 2 1 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 4 3 2 (an exception to the rule is made here by putting LH 3 on the A natural)

Ab Major and g#, c# minor:

RH: 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3

LH: 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 3

f# minor:

RH: 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3

LH: 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 4

*It can be useful to envision the black-key group rule (see below) when playing these scales.

5) "Black-key group" scales, ie. fingers 2 & 3 on C# & D#; 2, 3 & 4 on F#,G#, and A#. Thumbs come together in the two hands.

B Major:

RH: 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 1

LH: 1 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 4 3 2 1

F# Major:

RH: 2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2

LH: 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 4

C# Major:

RH: 2 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 1 2

LH: 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 3

Chromatic Scale: (starting on c):

RH: 1 3 1 3 1 2 3 1 3 1 3 1 2 3 etc.

LH: 1 3 1 3 2 1 3 1 3 1 3 2 1 etc.

Arpeggios

For Music 104 and 105: Hand-over-hand arpeggios, fingering: LH 531, RH 135, LH 531,

RH 135, LH 2 or 1, then descend using the same fingering in reverse.

For Music 204 and 205: “Normal” arpeggios, i.e., each of the two hands plays the complete arpeggio, hands together, one octave apart.

Fingerings for major and minor arpeggios starting on white keys, plus arpeggios that are entirely black keys:

C, D, E, F, G, A, B, F# Major and c, d, eb, e, f, g, a, b minor:

RH: 1 2 3 1 2 3 1

LH: 5 4 2 1 4 2 1

Fingerings for all other arpeggios that start on black keys: the thumb goes on the white note, then use fingers 2 and 4 on the black notes. For Bb Major, the right thumb goes on the first white note, the left thumb goes on the last white note. Here are the specific fingerings, broken down into individual arpeggios:

C#, Eb, Ab Major and c#, f#, g# minor:

RH: 4 1 2 4 1 2 4

LH: 2 1 4 2 1 4 2

Bb Major:

RH: 4 1 2 4 1 2 4

LH: 4 2 1 4 2 1 4

Bb minor:

RH: 2 3¹ 1 2 3 1 2

LH: 4 2 1 4 2 1 4

¹exception