4 Reasons to do Scales Before Playing

When I say scales, I mean the whole shebang – scales, chords, arpeggios, cadences, etc. Everything that you would find in a good scale book.

Why do we do them? What is their purpose? Can we skip them when we’re in a hurry?

Scales may be boring to some people, but I’ve noticed that the boring stuff is easier to do when I know the purpose behind it. There are more, technical, reasons behind it, but these are the philosophical reasons.

1. They make your music easier.

When you’re playing through the music and come across a fast passage, 9 out of 10 times, it’s just a scale or an arpeggio.

You can look at that tough passage and say, “Oh, that’s just a scale!” and play it like a champ.

2. It helps you get into the key signature.

6 flats. Oof.

Why can’t it be 7? It’s easier to remember.

Why can’t it be 5? It makes more sense.

Practicing the Gb Major scale/cadence/chords/arpeggios helps you get into the 6 flat monstrosity of a key signature. Do the relative minor, too, while you’re at it.

3. It helps your brain and your fingers talk to each other better.

Ever have one of those days when your fingers seem to get tangled on each other or won’t move the way you want? The scales help your fingers work smoother and better together.

4. It warms up the muscles in your hands.

You know how in sports, your muscles work better and you’re less likely to get injured if you do a proper warm-up? Scales work the same way. They prevent injury by bringing the blood to the area so the fingers work better.

Conclusion

After reading all these reasons to do scales, would you ever want to skip them? Maybe they’re boring, but scales make the rest of the music more fun. It always helps to know the reason behind doing the boring thing so you can get to the fun stuff faster.