Recommended Books
A collection of books for practicing scales, arpeggios, and piano technique.
Beginner-Friendly
Approachable books for those just starting their scale and arpeggio journey.
A Dozen a Day
Edna Mae Burnam
A series of short technical exercise books that introduce scale and arpeggio patterns to beginning students in a digestible, approachable format.
View on AmazonPreparatory Exercises, Op. 16
Aloys Schmitt
Often used before Hanon, these are simpler preparatory exercises for finger independence and evenness. An ideal starting point for beginners tackling scale and arpeggio work.
View on AmazonClassic Method Books
Time-tested technical exercise books that have shaped generations of pianists.
The Virtuoso Pianist in 60 Exercises
Charles-Louis Hanon
The most widely used technical exercise book for piano. Covers preparatory exercises, scales, arpeggios, trills, and virtuoso-level studies. Nearly universal in piano education.
View on AmazonSchool of Velocity, Op. 299
Carl Czerny
Specifically targets rapid scale and arpeggio passages. More accessible than Op. 740, often used as an intermediate stepping stone.
View on AmazonScales and Arpeggios for Piano
ABRSM
The standard reference for graded scale and arpeggio requirements used throughout the UK and Commonwealth examination systems. Covers all keys, contrary motion, chromatic scales, and dominant/diminished 7th arpeggios.
View on AmazonScale Theory & Patterns
Books that explore the theory behind scales, modes, and how they relate to harmony.
Complete Scales, Chords, Arpeggios & Cadences
Willard A. Palmer, Morton Manus & Amanda Vick Lethco
A comprehensive, clearly laid-out reference covering all major and minor scales, chords, arpeggios, and cadences. Includes explanations of key signatures and scale construction.
View on AmazonTechnical Requirements for Piano
Royal Conservatory of Music
The Canadian conservatory system's technical requirements books, providing exhaustive, graded scale and arpeggio requirements including solid chords, broken chords, and dominant/diminished 7th arpeggios.
View on AmazonThe Jazz Piano Book
Mark Levine
The definitive book on jazz piano with extensive coverage of scales, modes, and how they map to chord changes. Covers bebop scales, diminished scales, whole-tone scales, and altered scales.
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