The Fascinating World of Enharmonic Scales

Day 13 of the piano scales challenge is here, and today we’re diving into the unique world of black key scales! Specifically, we’re working on F# / Gb Major - yes, two names for the same scale. Along the way, I’ll show you exercises to build finger independence, refine your technique, and tackle those tricky enharmonic relationships. Whether you’re practicing legato, non legato, or dynamic arpeggios, this session has plenty of tips to level up your playing.

*Buff the PianoBuffs* 🔥
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🎹 Monika Lozinskienė

00:41 Circle of fifths (enharmonic change)
01:22 F-Sharp / G-Flat Major overview
01:50 Slow practice in 2 octaves
02:13 Scale in thirds slowly (parallel & contrary motion)
03:17 A new exercise (broken thirds)
04:18 Finger independence & rotation exercise
04:42 Simple scale in sixths (focus on legato)
05:46 Detaché (non legato) practice
06:12 Long arpeggios (black keys only, fingering)
08:09 Adding dynamics to playing arpeggios
09:20 Separate hands practice advice
10:32 Practicing tips (Slow vs Fast)
11:20 C# Dominant 7th chord (notes and fingering)
11:52 Exercise suggestions (intervals, accents, etc.)
13:37 Outro

[PianoBuffs]

This scale can seem complicated in theory, but I chose to play it as F# Major instead of Gb Major (same notes, different names). Personally, thinking in sharps feels more intuitive to me as a pianist. I know wind/jazz players often prefer flat keys since they're more common in their repertoire, but for pianists, sharps might feel more natural. What’s your experience with this scale?

[PianoBuffs]

Timestamps for easier jumping around :)

00:41​ Circle of fifths (enharmonic change)
01:22​ F-Sharp / G-Flat Major overview
01:50​ Slow practice in 2 octaves
02:13​ Scale in thirds slowly (parallel & contrary motion)
03:17​ A new exercise (broken thirds)
04:18​ Finger independence & rotation exercise
04:42​ Simple scale in sixths (focus on legato)
05:46​ Detaché (non legato) practice
06:12​ Long arpeggios (black keys only, fingering)
08:09​ Adding dynamics to playing arpeggios
09:20​ Separate hands practice advice
10:32​ Practicing tips (Slow vs Fast)
11:20​ C# Dominant 7th chord (notes and fingering)
11:52​ Exercise suggestions (intervals, accents, etc.)
13:37​ Outro