{"id":16094,"date":"2023-12-08T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-08T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/?p=16094"},"modified":"2023-12-07T10:19:28","modified_gmt":"2023-12-07T18:19:28","slug":"how-to-play-scales-fast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/how-to-play-scales-fast\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Play Scales FAST \ud83d\udca8 (The Jordan Rudess Juilliard Approach)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>We all want to play fast, but technical things like thumb-tucks and cross-overs can slow us down. In this lesson, we\u2019re lucky to have <em>the <\/em>Jordan Rudess of Dream Theater teach us how to play scales FAST using techniques he learned at the Juilliard School. Rudess is one of the top keyboard musicians in the world and was once voted <em>Music Radar<\/em>\u2019s \u201cBest Keyboardist of All Time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s how Jordan plays piano scales fast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><p><strong>Table of Contents:<\/strong><\/p><nav><ol><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#how-to-play-scales-fast-the-jordan-rudess-juilliard-approach\">The Jordan Rudess Juilliard Approach<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#step-by-step-practice-the-burst-exercise\">The \u201cBurst\u201d Exercise<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#final-thoughts\">Final Thoughts<\/a><\/li><\/ol><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\"><h2 class=\"has-text-align-center\" style=\"font-size:22px\"><strong>\ud83c\udfb9 Your Go-To Place for All Things Piano<\/strong><\/h2><center><p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Get exclusive access to world-class pianists and what makes them tick. Subscribe to <em>The Note<\/em> today.<\/p><\/center><iframe class=\"email-form-include\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/weeklyemail\" frameborder=\"none\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-play-scales-fast-the-jordan-rudess-juilliard-approach\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>How to Play Scales Fast: The Jordan Rudess Juilliard Approach<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Most people learn how to play scales by learning techniques like the thumb tuck and the crossover to connect all the notes. This is the correct way to play scales, but if you want to take your scale to the next level, it\u2019s time to shift your focus away from thumb tucks and crossovers and look at the bigger picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:10%\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:80%\">\n<video playsinline=\u201c\u201d autoplay=\u201c\u201d src=\"https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2023\/Jordan%20Rudess%20Scales\/thumb%20tuck%20slow%20mo%20min.mp4\" loop=\"\" muted=\"\" width=\"100%\"><\/video>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:10%\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>This means seeing your arm as a whole and pulling it across the keyboard in one smooth, continuous motion.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Doing so creates momentum that will help you play faster. The thumb-tuck becomes more subtle, allowing the hand to almost jump from one position to the next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:10%\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:80%\">\n<center><video playsinline=\u201c\u201d autoplay=\u201c\u201d src=\"https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2023\/Jordan%20Rudess%20Scales\/jordan%20rudess%20arm%20drag%20min.mp4\" loop=\"\" muted=\"\" width=\"100%\"><\/video><\/center>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:10%\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Practice this a lot. Eventually, it\u2019ll flow so smoothly you won\u2019t notice you\u2019re thumb-tucking at all!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"step-by-step-practice-the-burst-exercise\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>Step-By-Step Practice: The \u201cBurst\u201d Exercise<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>So how do we practice this? Jordan recommends a step-by-step approach targeting different notes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s an example using the ascending C major scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"targeting-e\" style=\"font-size:24px\">Targeting E<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s start things off easy by targeting E. This is pretty straightforward. Think of C and D as pick-up notes that lead into E as the downbeat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:10%\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:80%\">\n<video playsinline=\u201c\u201d autoplay=\u201c\u201d src=\"https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2023\/Jordan%20Rudess%20Scales\/jordan%20rudess%20target%20E%20min.mp4\" loop=\"\" muted=\"\" width=\"100%\"><\/video>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:10%\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Play this with a metronome for maximum effectiveness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>The most important thing is getting to your destination.<\/p>\n<cite>Jordan Rudess<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"targeting-f-and-g\" style=\"font-size:24px\">Targeting F and G<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>F is our first thumb-tuck note, so it\u2019s time to put our Juilliard principles into practice!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The same idea as targeting E applies. Think of your first three notes as pick-up notes that lead into F.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:10%\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:80%\">\n<video playsinline=\u201c\u201d autoplay=\u201c\u201d src=\"https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2023\/Jordan%20Rudess%20Scales\/jordan%20rudess%20target%20F%20min.mp4\" loop=\"\" muted=\"\" width=\"100%\"><\/video>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:10%\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also experiment with different chords and harmonies in your left hand while your right hand practices this exercise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"targeting-higher-notes\" style=\"font-size:24px\">Targeting Higher Notes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep adding C major scale notes to this exercise and eventually, you\u2019ll play the entire scale lightning-fast!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Things start to sound interesting when you target G, as this will sound more complete. If you practice along with our video, Jordan will even accompany you with some funky modern harmonies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:10%\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:80%\">\n<video playsinline=\u201c\u201d autoplay=\u201c\u201d src=\"https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2023\/Jordan%20Rudess%20Scales\/jordan%20rudess%20target%20b%20min.mp4\" loop=\"\" muted=\"\" width=\"100%\"><\/video>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:10%\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep your fingers light. They should float over the pickup notes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When we get to the next C, that\u2019s when things get challenging. This will be a second thumb tuck, so really try to keep your rightward momentum going. Focusing on that movement will help a lot! Again, try to keep your hands, wrists, and fingers light and relaxed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-cyan-bluish-gray-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Playing an instrument is like a physical sport in that you have to train your muscles to accomplish the music you have in your head . . . It\u2019s going to take a daily focus and discipline. Like an athlete who has to been in top form.<\/p>\n<cite><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jordanrudess.com\/biography\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jordan Rudess<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/05145153\/jordan-rudess-and-lisa-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Woman with short platinum hair and man with white goatee at a piano with their hands crossed.\" class=\"wp-image-16096\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/05145153\/jordan-rudess-and-lisa-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/05145153\/jordan-rudess-and-lisa-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/05145153\/jordan-rudess-and-lisa-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/05145153\/jordan-rudess-and-lisa.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-cyan-bluish-gray-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"final-thoughts\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>Final Thoughts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This exercise is about mentality. Focus on your target note and commit to hitting it on the beat. This will change your perception: you\u2019ll start to see scales not as individual notes but as a whole entity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is how classical, jazz, and progressive pianists who play fast as part of their job see scales, and it can be applied to any style of music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can apply the same principle to arpeggios. Jordan explains that here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Jordan Rudess Teaches Arpeggios (How to Play FAST)\ud83d\udca8\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7b9j5BS3KME?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Have fun and happy practicing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Related lessons:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/piano-scales\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Piano Scales: Types of Scales and How to Apply Them<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/3-speed-exercises\/\">3 Speed Exercises to Play Piano FAST<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/get-faster-fingers\/\">Get Faster Fingers (How to Remove Finger Tension at the Piano)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\"><center><h2 style=\"font-size:22px\"><b>\ud83c\udfb9 Learn Piano With Real Teachers<\/b><\/h2><p>The best way to learn piano is with real teachers, but not everyone has the time and money for a private instructor. At Pianote, you can get real feedback from real experts\u2026all from the comfort of your own home. Explore our Method and community yourself with a free 7-day trial.<\/p><p><\/p><a class=\"join\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/trial\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TRY PIANOTE FOR 7 DAYS<\/a><\/center><p><\/p><\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dream Theater&#8217;s Jordan Rudess shares his secret to playing lightning fast scales.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[520,1114,509],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16094","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-play-faster","category-scales-keys","category-technique"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16094","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/49"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16094"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16094\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16112,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16094\/revisions\/16112"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16094"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16094"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16094"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}