Hanon · The Virtuoso Pianist · Part III
Hanon Exercise No. 56 Scales in broken octaves in all 24 keys
Exercise 56 of 60 from Hanon’s The Virtuoso Pianist, newly engraved from the 1900 Schirmer edition. Every major and minor scale with each octave split into its lower and upper note. Hanon adds that it prepares the wrists for the tremolo. Press Play to hear it on a real piano, set the speed anywhere from Hanon’s 60 up to his 120, 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 Broken Octaves, in the 24 Keys.
M. M. ♩ = 60 to 120.
Play them through without stopping.
This highly important exercise likewise prepares the wrists for the study of the tremolo.
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
Throughout this exercise, take the black keys with the 4th finger of each hand.
Quick facts
- Book
- C. L. Hanon, The Virtuoso Pianist in Sixty Exercises, Part III
- Trains
- Every major and minor scale with each octave split into its lower and upper note. Hanon adds that it prepares the wrists for the tremolo.
- Key
- all 24 major and minor keys
- Time signature
- 4/4
- Length
- 97 bars in 24 sections
- Hanon’s speed
- 60 to 120 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. 56 be played?
Hanon marks it 60 to 120, in crotchet beats a minute: start at 60 and raise the speed a little at a time, only once every note is even, until you reach 120. The speed slider above the music covers that range.
What is Hanon exercise No. 56 for?
Every major and minor scale with each octave split into its lower and upper note. Hanon adds that it prepares the wrists for the tremolo. It is in Part III (virtuoso exercises).
Can I print or download Hanon No. 56?
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.
← All 60 Hanon exercises · How to practise them
🔒 Runs entirely in your browser: nothing is uploaded and no account is needed.