Scale Fingering – E Minor (Harmonic, Melodic and Natural)

The E Harmonic Minor scale can be very tricky at the start as it requires you to use finger 4 in both hands on black notes. Despite this the E minor scales uses the typical C major fingering and contains 2 sharps (F# and D#). Make sure you keep the scale to 1 and 2 octave hands separately before trying the scale hands together. You can increase it to 3 and 4 octaves by using the same technique as discussed in previous scales which have C major fingering. The Melodic minor (which has a C# going up) and the Natural minor (which has only a F# going up and down) are normally used in conjunction which each other playing the ascending Melodic minor going up the piano followed by the Natural minor going down the piano. In the earlier grades the E minor scale is required 2 octaves hands together. However in later grades you’ll be required to play it up to 4 octaves hands together. It may be helpful to purchase a copy of the ABRSM piano scale book which can be bought from music shops in Swindon as well as from online retailers. 

Here is the piano fingering for the E Minor scales as taught in my lessons:

One octave R.H (up) 12312345 (down) 4321321

One octave L.H (up) 54321321 (down) 2312345

Two octaves R.H (up) 123123412312345 (down) 43213214321321

Two octaves L.H (up) 543213214321321 (down) 23123412312345

Watch video demonstration of the teacher playing the E Minor scale (Harmonic):

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