Piano Scales: 7 Fun Ways To Actually Improve Your Practice
*Disclaimer: these levels are not for beginners, and are for intermediate-level players.*
Practicing your piano scales doesn’t have to be boring or repetitive. There are a multitude of things you can do that will improve your scales and other aspects of your playing. Here is a list of Seven Levels, in increasing difficulty, that will build up your chops and improve your musicality. You’ll learn how to apply articulations, music theory, and even something as tricky as polyrhythms to your practice.
These Seven Levels are going to make the scales a little bit more fun, less of an exercise, and will sound musical.
Please note that this article won’t cover basic piano scale fingerings. If you need guidance on playing scales, head over to SmartGamePiano.com and sign up for the Piano Scales and Scale Fingering course to learn the fundamentals!
Level 1: Articulations
Articulations are the secret sauce that adds flavor to your piano playing. They are basically how you play notes on the piano. Practicing your articulations helps define your technique on the keyboard, and helps you learn the feeling of the keyboard in order to get the specific sound you want. Not only will this enhance your control, but it will also elevate your overall playing technique. Some common examples of articulations include legato and staccato.
Let’s dive into an example of a legato-staccato pattern. Begin with a ‘long’ note, followed by a ‘short’ note. While playing this pattern, make sure you’re not speeding up or changing your tempo.
Make it More Challenging!
To level up even more, reverse it. Start with staccato, then go into legato. It doesn’t seem like it would be that tricky, but it surprisingly makes you think.
Quick Note
A good rule of thumb is to practice something three times perfectly before moving on to the next thing. Yes, it’s totally doable. And you can apply that to anything, not just the Seven Levels of piano scales.
Level 2: Control Your Speed
I strongly recommend practicing this level with a metronome to help you conquer rhythmic subdivisions like eighth notes, triplets, and 16th notes. In this level, your mission is to play each of these subdivisions while maintaining a consistent tempo.
Let the metronome mark the tempo of the quarter note, establishing the beat.
Choose a comfortable tempo and play the piano scale with quarter notes to the beat. You can either play one octave in each hand or with both hands together. Next, level up by playing eighth notes across two octaves. Continue to push yourself by playing triplets over three octaves, and ultimately, tackle sixteenth notes spanning four octaves.
This exercise is fantastic for uncovering any unintentional fluctuations in tempo, and practicing with a metronome will keep you in check.
Level Up the Challenge!
When you can stay at a steady tempo through all iterations, try playing different rhythms in each hand. Let your right-hand cycle through quarter, eighth, triplets, and sixteenth notes, while your left-hand sticks to quarter notes. Playing two different rhythms is a sign of mastery on the piano, so if you can do this, other things will become easier!
Level 3: Improvise
This level is a personal favorite, as it’s all about improvisation (letting your creativity run wild)! It’s an excellent way to improve your dexterity, which refers to the smoothness, flexibility, and precision of your playing on the keys and your knowledge of the piano scale.
I’ll demonstrate using the D-flat Major scale, as it’s one of the most comfortable scales to play on the piano because the thumb always lands on a white key, while the other fingers navigate the black keys.
Just explore. Travel up and down the piano one note at a time, in any order and direction you choose. Since you’re playing within a scale, it will never sound “wrong.” Experiment with long runs, short runs, and above all, have fun! Incorporate the left hand using single notes or octaves, and maybe even add some pedal. This approach transforms your practice into a musical experience, making it feel more like playing a piece rather than a mere exercise. So go ahead, and create some accidental masterpieces!
Level 4: Ear Training and Intervals
Technically, any practice, if you’re paying attention, is a type of ear training. In this exercise, we’ll focus on intervals – the term used to describe the distance between two notes.
Usually, when practicing piano scales, you play the same note name in each hand. However, in this exercise, you’ll play different notes at a specific interval apart. Let’s dive in!
Even though it can be called a 10th apart, consider this as thirds. In the A major scale, play an A in your left hand and a C# in your right hand.
Now, try the opposite – an A in your right hand and a C# in your left. This can be referred to as a 6th apart.
There are other intervals you can practice and explore, but thirds and sixths are a great start because they always sound pretty! This exercise also tests your fingering independence. Being able to play different fingers within the same scale is a true indicator of mastery.
Quick Note
We’re more than halfway through the levels, and I just want to remind you here that just because we’re going through these levels in order doesn’t mean you have to play them this way. Feel free to jump between levels – from level one to three, or back down to two. Customize your practice to suit your needs and enjoy the musical journey!
Level 5: Music Theory and Modes
Just like in level four, any practice session can double as music theory practice if you’re attentive. In this exercise, we’ll concentrate on modes – scales that aren’t major scales or minor scales (although those are kind of included within the modes). I really like doing this exercise a lot because it forces me to focus. We’ll play through every mode, one after the other, within the same octave and starting on the same tonic. Switching between modes like this helps to stay sharp and avoid autopilot.
Start with Ionian (Major) up and down, then transition to Dorian. Continue with Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, and ending with Locrian.
It’s a great brainbuster. You can do this starting with any note, at any tempo, and you’ll learn a lot about fingerings and the different keys that can be used in music!
Level 6: Transposing and the Circle of 5ths
Transposition means you move between two different keys. It’s also known as modulation or key change. We can practice this by going through the entire Circle of 5ths through our piano scales. The Circle of 5ths is how we organize all of the keys in music theory.
In this example, we’ll start with the C major scale, moving on to the G major scale, going clockwise around the Circle of 5ths. Don’t worry if you’re not familiar with all the keys – that’s okay. This exercise is an excellent way to learn them! The ultimate goal is to play consistently, so you’re not guessing the next scale.
Make it More Challenging!
Variety is key to learning and staying sharp. So, don’t always start with C. Start with a different key on the circle, like A major scale or D major scale. And don’t always go clockwise. Try the other direction on the Circle. You can also apply this to minor scales, modes, blues scales, or whatever you want to practice!
Level 7: Polyrhythms
Get ready. This is the hardest level on this list. Practicing your scales with polyrhythms prepares you to play more complicated music in the future and also sharpens your hand independence.
(Hand independence is a way of saying being able to play both hands together while doing different things. Here’s a video that explains this more. Play Hands Together on the Piano NOW! (Hand Independence)
Here’s the secret to conquering polyrhythms: Play eighth notes with your left hand while your right-hand plays triplets. You’ll end up playing two octaves in the left hand, and three on the right.
Want to push your limits? Switch it up by having your left-hand play triplets and your right hand play eighth notes. Just remember to start an octave apart to create room.
Keep in mind, this level is HARD. But don’t let that discourage you if you don’t get this right away. In fact, before you bring this to the keyboard, tap the rhythm on your legs or a surface. This will help you understand the rhythm before playing it with scales.
Mix It Up – Combine Levels for a Unique Practice Experience
Why not add some variety to your scales practice by combining different levels? Mix Level 1 (Articulations) with Level 6 (Circle of 5ths), Level 2 (Controlling Speed) with Level 4 (Intervals), or any other imaginative combination you can think of!
Conclusion
These Seven Levels of Scales Practice are designed to refresh your practice sessions and keep you from falling into a mechanical rut. Have fun with them, and strengthen your musicality!
Don’t forget that Smart Game Piano offers:
- A Piano Scales and Scale Fingering course that teaches you the foundation of all scales, including major scales, minor scales, pentatonic scales, blues scales, and more.
- Master courses covering: Technique, Music Theory & Sheet Music, Mental Training, Physical Training, and Leveling It Up.
Catch you on the inside!
