Piano Scales: Similar vs. Contrary Motion

This is a very quick blog to give a very quick recap of a very simple premise and that premise is…

SCALES!

We all love them, but finding our fingers in the initial stages is quite a challenge, granted.

This blog isn’t intended to recap what sharps or flats or are in scales. For that, read up about the Circle of Fifths.

Instead, we’re just going to focus on the difference between Similar Motion and Contrary Motion piano scales, starting with Contrary Motion…because it’s a little bit easier!

So, strap in and get ready to read and learn more about...

Similar Motion and Contrary Motion Piano Scales!

Contrary Motion Piano Scales

Contrary Motion refers to the hands going in separate directions to one another, usually starting on the same note (i.e. the same pitch, such as both thumbs on middle C for a C major contrary motion scale).

Before we attempt it hands together, let’s just rethink a simple scale - such as G major - as we would play it in the right hand:

G - A - B - C - D - E - F♯ - G

Using fingers

1 - 2 - 3 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5

Where 1 is the thumb and we tuck it under the middle finger to allow it to continue playing on the C.

In the left hand, we would play the same notes one octave lower using the following fingers:

5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 - 3 - 2 - 1

Where 3 is the middle finger and we lift it over the thumb to continue playing on the E.

When it comes to coming down, the notes naturally change as follows:

G - F♯ - E - D - C - B - A - G

And all that happens with regards our finger numbers are that they swap their numbers from the other hand’s ascension. Thus, the notes given just above are now played in the left hand as:

1 - 2 - 3 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5

And the right hand would be:

5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 - 3 - 2 - 1

And the reason that this is super interesting and makes it a little easier to comprehend what fingers go where when it comes to playing your first hands together scales (often why I start by teaching contrary motion) is because it keeps your fingers the same:

Starting on the same note (and same pitch - G), lay your thumbs and descend your left hand down an octave whilst your right hand rises an octave. Then come back and finish with thumbs back on G!

Both hands will be using identical fingers:

1 - 2 - 3 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 - 3 - 2 - 1

There you have it!

Note that because the left hand pitch doesn't go too far below middle C, I've opted to keep this whole contrary motion scale in the right hand treble clef part!

C major is of course is a great scale for beginning your exploration here as it is all white notes, so I’ve using G major above to exemplify how your black notes (in this case - one sharp note - F♯)  don’t go down together. This can cause confusion, so on the flip side you may be of the team that finds similar motion a little easier to start learning because - whilst the fingers don’t match - the sharp / flat notes do (in fact, all notes do!)

Read on to learn more…

Similar Motion Piano Scales

Similar motion refers to scales whereby your hands are playing the same notes at the same time - usually one octave apart. This means that they are ascending and descending together (similarly - see how it works now?!).

So if your right hand is playing the G major scale:

G - A - B - C - D - E - F♯  - G

Then your left hand is playing…

G - A - B - C - D - E - F♯  - G !

…just one octave lower!

Sounds easy?

Perhaps, but bear in mind now that we have an inconsistency of fingers, because whereas one - the right hand - would rise up a la

1 - 2 - 3 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5

Our left hand needs to rise up

5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 - 3 - 2 - 1

And vice versa for the descent…

Familiarity of movement is a huge thing when it comes to playing similar motion scales, so whilst I do encourage learning by slow and regular rhythm (such as slow metronome learning), I do feel that it is as well to just stumble your way through the movements in your own time for at least the first few attempts of playing through them. One thumb will be going under finger three as the other hands is still rising, same for finger three going over the thumb vs. normal movement in the other hand.

Part of the success of scales is keeping a strong visualisation as to which notes your are moving to and between, hence why individual hand practice is a great way to start.

Another part of it is remembering the simple rule that when it comes to scales, aside from the discrepancies of those fingers moving under and over, fingers stick together. You don’t miss fingers, you simply ‘reset’ them!

For one of the most effective ways of learning scales - both academically and practically - try the power of visualisation.

Visualising Scales

Whilst it is very possible to download diagrams for all manner of sources on the Internet, there is nothing quite like doing it yourself.

The reason for this is simply because it allows for another way in for learning. Finding diagrams is very much a quick reference, whereas doing it yourself attacks the problem and helps you learn it more effectively, more quickly and potentially even more accurately!

Marking out a simple diagram of a keyboard using colours and finger numbers could be a great way to visual what a scale ‘looks like’, thus eventually eliminating that temptation to veer towards the wrong note halfway through. In turn, this affects directly how you tackle key signatures - all the notes you need for any key are found in their respective scale, so learning the scales creates a familiarity in this. And visualisation is a great trick.

Marking a diagram of a keyboard - even a crudely drawn one - by colouring in or dotting the notes  and marking the finger numbers on top is a great tactic. For example:

This example digram has colour coded my left hand blue and right hand red so I can reference which hand plays what for a contrary motion scale.

This website here is a great resource to print from. Download for yourself and get marking away - you’d be surprised at how much is helps you to remember and learn!

For a video of all G major based scales referred to above, watch below:

...and whilst you're at it, don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel so you don't miss any videos (they're more interesting than this one usually, I promise!)

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Jack Mitchell Smith is a piano teacher based in Congleton, Cheshire. Click here to find out more.

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