Piano Scales, Arpeggios & Technical Work Syllabus

Spell A melodic minor, ascending and descending.

Ascending: A–B–C–D–E–F♯–G♯–A. Descending: A–G–F–E–D–C–B–A (natural minor form).

What is a relative minor, and how do you find it from a major key?

A minor key sharing the same key signature as the major key. Its tonic is the 6th degree of the major scale — a minor 3rd ($3$ semitones) below the major tonic. Example: relative minor of G major is E minor.

What is a parallel minor?

The minor key that shares the same tonic as a major key but has a different key signature. Example: the parallel minor of C major is C minor ($3$ flats).

Compare relative and parallel minors in one sentence each.

Relative minor: same key signature, different tonic (e.g., C major / A minor). Parallel minor: same tonic, different key signature (e.g., C major / C minor).

What defines a chromatic scale?

A scale consisting of all $12$ pitches within the octave, moving entirely by half steps (semitones).

What is the standard fingering rule for the chromatic scale?

Finger 3 plays every black key; the thumb (1) plays white keys; where two white keys are adjacent (E–F and B–C), use 1–2.

What is the difference between a chromatic semitone and a diatonic semitone?

A chromatic semitone keeps the same letter name (C to C♯); a diatonic semitone uses adjacent letter names (C to D♭). Both equal $1$ semitone in pitch distance.

Which scale degrees form the major pentatonic scale?

Degrees $1, 2, 3, 5, 6$ of the major scale — the 4th and 7th are omitted. Example: C major pentatonic = C–D–E–G–A.

What is the formula for the minor pentatonic scale?

$1, \flat 3, 4, 5, \flat 7$. Example: A minor pentatonic = A–C–D–E–G.

How are the major and minor pentatonic scales related?

They are relative scales sharing the same five notes: the minor pentatonic starts on the 6th degree of the major pentatonic. Example: C major pentatonic (C–D–E–G–A) and A minor pentatonic (A–C–D–E–G).

What is the formula for the blues scale, and how many notes does it contain?

$1, \flat 3, 4, \flat 5, 5, \flat 7$ — a minor pentatonic plus the flattened 5th, giving $6$ notes. Example: C blues = C–E♭–F–G♭–G–B♭.

What is the "blue note" in the blues scale?

The flattened 5th degree ($\flat 5$, equivalently ♯4), added to the minor pentatonic; it creates the characteristic dissonant, expressive blues color.

What are the key properties of the whole-tone scale?

It is built entirely of whole steps, contains $6$ notes per octave, and only $2$ distinct whole-tone collections exist (e.g., starting on C or on C♯) — every other starting note reproduces one of these two.

Name the seven modes in order, built on successive degrees of the major scale.

Ionian (1), Dorian (2), Phrygian (3), Lydian (4), Mixolydian (5), Aeolian (6), Locrian (7). On white keys: C Ionian, D Dorian, E Phrygian, F Lydian, G Mixolydian, A Aeolian, B Locrian.

What single degree distinguishes Lydian from major, and Mixolydian from major?

Lydian is the major scale with a raised 4th ($\sharp 4$); Mixolydian is the major scale with a lowered 7th ($\flat 7$).

What intervals above the root form a major arpeggio?

Root, major 3rd ($4$ semitones), and perfect 5th ($7$ semitones) — the notes of the major triad played in succession. Example: C–E–G.

What intervals form a minor arpeggio, and what is the only difference from a major arpeggio?

Root, minor 3rd ($3$ semitones), perfect 5th ($7$ semitones). The only difference from major is the third, lowered by one half step (e.g., C–E♭–G vs C–E–G).

What is an arpeggio?

The notes of a chord played one after another (usually root, 3rd, 5th, octave, continuing up or down) rather than simultaneously — literally a "broken" or harp-style chord spanning octaves.

What is the formula of a dominant 7th chord, and on which scale degree is it built?

$1, 3, 5, \flat 7$ (major triad plus minor 7th), built on the 5th degree of the key. Example: in C major, G7 = G–B–D–F.

How is a diminished 7th chord constructed, and why are there only three distinct diminished 7th chords?

It stacks minor 3rds: $1, \flat 3, \flat 5, \flat\flat 7$, each interval $3$ semitones. Since $4 \times 3 = 12$ semitones divides the octave evenly, the chord is symmetrical and any inversion is another diminished 7th, leaving only $3$ distinct pitch collections.

How does a dominant 7th chord tend to resolve?

To the tonic chord (V7 → I): the leading tone (3rd of V7) rises a half step to the tonic, and the 7th of the chord falls a step to the 3rd of the tonic chord. Example: G7 resolves to C major.

What is the difference between a broken chord and an arpeggio in piano technical work?

A broken chord plays chord notes in short patterns within a narrow range (e.g., groups of three notes moving through inversions), while an arpeggio runs straight up and down the chord tones across one or more octaves.

What is the Alberti bass pattern?

A left-hand broken-chord accompaniment playing the chord tones in the order lowest–highest–middle–highest (e.g., C–G–E–G for a C major triad), common in Classical-era piano music.

What is the standard right-hand fingering for a C major arpeggio, two octaves ascending?

1–2–3–1–2–3–5, with the thumb passing under the 3rd finger at each new octave (C–E–G–C–E–G–C).

What is the standard left-hand fingering for a C major arpeggio, ascending from the bottom?

5–4–2–1, then cross 4 over the thumb for the next octave: 5–4–2–1–4–2–1.

What is the fingering principle for arpeggios that start on a black key?

Keep the thumb on white keys: begin with finger 2 or 3 on the black-key root and place the thumb on the first white chord tone. Example: B♭ major arpeggio RH commonly uses 2–1–2–4 (thumb on D).

What are scales in thirds and sixths, and what is their main technical challenge?

Scales played with both hands (or one hand, as double notes) sounding parallel intervals of a 3rd or a 6th apart throughout. The challenge is perfect synchronization and legato voicing of two simultaneous lines, especially double notes within one hand.

In C major, if the right hand starts on E while the left hand starts on C and both play the scale upward, what interval results — and what if the right hand starts on A?

Starting a 3rd apart (C against E) gives a scale in thirds; starting a 6th apart (C against A) gives a scale in sixths. The interval stays constant as both hands move in parallel motion.

What is a scale in contrary motion?

Both hands begin (usually on the same note or the same note two octaves apart) and move in opposite directions — one ascending while the other descends — then reverse and return to the starting point.

Why is the C major scale in contrary motion considered easier than in parallel motion?

Because the keyboard pattern is mirror-symmetric: both thumbs, and matching fingers (3 with 3, etc.), play at exactly the same moments, so the fingering of the two hands is identical in mirror image.