This page covers the one-octave contrary motion major scales in F and B.

This is the fourth in this series of five pages. Work through the pages in order, using the series nav immediately below.

The Scale Fingering Groups

Take a moment to look at the scale fingering group information - it will help you get an 'aerial view' of scale fingering, rather than trying to remember the fingering key by key.

The twelve two-handed major scales fall into four groups:

• '2H/SFG1*': C and sharp keys to E (RH SFG1 + LH SFG2)
• '2H/SFG2': Flat keys B flat to D flat (RH SFG3 + LH SFG4)
• '2H/SFG3': 'Odd Men Out' catch-up - F (RH 4+4, LH SFG2) and B (RH SFG1 + LH 4+4). 
  
• '2H/SFG4': the 'All-Blacks' (both hands SFG5) - D flat, F sharp (enh. G flat) and B majors.
  

*'2H/SFG' stands for "two-handed scale fingering group" - the
groups of two-handed scales with similar fingering.

NB: The diagram below - for reference - is for the single-handed SFGs, NOT the 2H/SFGs given above!

Contrary motion 2H/SFG3 scales

This is the 'Odd Men Out' 2H/SFG3 page, covering the F and B flat major scales.

These two scales find themselves together because:

• One of the two hands has the 'regular' group-of-five plus group-of-three fingering (LH in F major, RH in B major)
• The other hand (RH in F, LH in B) divides the notes into two groups of four notes.

Look at the key-specific keyboards closely to understand what is meant.

The F major left hand uses the 'regular' 5+3 fingering; the right hand has the 4+4 grouping.

The situation is reversed. The B major left hand has the 4+4 grouping, while the right hand uses the 'regular' 3+5 fingering.

NOTE: Like the 2H/SFG1 scales, F and B major contrary motion scales start with thumbs (RH1/LH1) sharing the tonic.

Here's the build-up video for 2H/SFG3 F and contrary motion scales.

The x5/x8 ConMo patterns

In this series of pages, you play these x5/x8 contrary motion (ConMo) scale practice patterns (SPPs) in all keys.

Aim to be able to go to the keyboard and play the contrary motion scales in this two-handed SFG from these patterns 'just like that!

F major

Have a good look at the key-specific keyboard (KSK) to identify the LH 5+3/RH 4+4 fingering groups. The right hand never uses finger five (RH5).

F major has one flat - B flat, which flattens the fourth of the scale.

B major

Identify the LH 4+4/RH 3+5 fingering groups on the key-specific keyboard (KSK). The left hand never uses finger five (LH5).

B major is also an 'All Blacks' key - it uses all five black keys, and can also be found in 2H/SFG4. (The white keys - all thumbs - are B and E.)

Now go on to cover the 'All Blacks' of 2H/SFG4, or select another page using the series nav.

AND/OR...

As soon as you have learned the contrary motion major scale in these keys, you can go on to use the abbreviated scale practice routine for this 2H/SFG.