Hanon · The Virtuoso Pianist · Part III
Hanon Exercise No. 53 Scales in octaves in all 24 keys
Exercise 53 of 60 from Hanon’s The Virtuoso Pianist, newly engraved from the 1900 Schirmer edition. Every major and minor scale played in octaves, two octaves up and down. Press Play to hear it on a real piano, set the speed anywhere from Hanon’s 40 up to his 84, hear one hand at a time or switch on the metronome, and click any note to start from there.
As printed in Hanon’s book
Scales in Octaves in the 24 Keys.
M. M. ♩ = 40 to 84.
First practise each of these scales until it can be executed with facility; then play through all 24 without interruption.
We cannot too strongly insist on the absolute necessity of a proper wrist-movement; it is the only means of executing octaves without stiffness, and with suppleness, vivacity and energy.
See the explanations for Nos. 48 and 51.
A minor
F major
D minor
B♭ major
G minor
E♭ major
C minor
A♭ major
F minor
D♭ major
B♭ minor
G♭ major
E♭ minor
B major
G♯ minor
E major
C♯ minor
A major
F♯ minor
D major
B minor
G major
E minor
Click any note to hear from there. Space plays and pauses.
Hanon’s footnote
In all scales in Octaves, the black keys are to be taken with the 4th finger of either hand.
Quick facts
- Book
- C. L. Hanon, The Virtuoso Pianist in Sixty Exercises, Part III
- Trains
- Every major and minor scale played in octaves, two octaves up and down.
- Key
- all 24 major and minor keys
- Time signature
- 4/4
- Length
- 49 bars in 24 sections
- Hanon’s speed
- 40 to 84 crotchet beats a minute
- Source
- G. Schirmer edition, 1900; English text by Theodore Baker
- Copyright
- Public domain. This engraving is free to print, copy and share.
Questions and answers
How fast should Hanon No. 53 be played?
Hanon marks it 40 to 84, in crotchet beats a minute: start at 40 and raise the speed a little at a time, only once every note is even, until you reach 84. The speed slider above the music covers that range.
What is Hanon exercise No. 53 for?
Every major and minor scale played in octaves, two octaves up and down. It is in Part III (virtuoso exercises).
Can I print or download Hanon No. 53?
Yes. Use Download the PDF at the top of this page for a print-ready A4 copy of this exercise; it also prints well on US Letter with fit to page. The whole book, all 60 exercises, is one PDF on the Hanon page. Both are free and out of copyright.
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