'From the Middle' patterns are an efficient way to learn and practice scale fingering. You were first introduced to 'From the Middle' patterns in the Two-octave Scales page.

'From the Middle' patterns also offer a great opportunity for some ear-training (aural) work.

Below are ten 'From the Middle' patterns, in C major, presented both as audio files then as video 'reveals'.

Listen first to the audio performances, deciding how far above and below the tonic (home-note) they reach. All patterns are three-and-a-half bare long and symmetrical (with the same number of notes above as below the tonic).

Use a pencil-and-paper to help you. You don't have to write proper music - just marks above and below a line representing the tonic is enough.

Note that we're using 'intervals' - a second, third, fourth or fifth - to describe the vertical distance here. Intervals use 'inclusive' counting - the tonic is 'one', not 'zero', so one note up is a second (counting both notes).

Play the patterns you discover from the middle thumbs of your two-octave C major scale using the proper scale fingering (that was the original point!).

The audio performances

The video performances

Here are the ten 'From the Middle' video performances. You will use these to learn and practice scale fingering in all keys - so training yourself to hear and remember the 2nd/3rd/4th/5th up/down 'contour' of the patterns is vital.

The fingering for these patterns works for the sharp keys as far as E major.

Take the interval/up/down pattern and play them in all these keys.