ABRSM Grade 5 Piano Scales & Arpeggios
All 28 scales and arpeggios for ABRSM Grade 5 piano (2025–2028 syllabus): 15 scales and 13 arpeggios across 12 keys. Practise each one with the right range, hands and fingering, and tick it off when it's ready.
Scales
2 octaves · hands together · minors: harmonic or melodic
- A major
- E major
- B major
- F♯ major
- D♭ major
- F♯ minor
- C♯ minor
- G♯ minor
- E♭ minor
- B♭ minor
Staccato scales
2 octaves · hands separately · staccato · minors: harmonic or melodic
- A♭ major
- F minor
Contrary-motion scales
2 octaves · hands starting on the same note · minor: harmonic
- D♭ major
- C♯ minor (harmonic)
Chromatic contrary-motion scale
2 octaves · hands starting a major 3rd apart
- Starting on F♯ (left hand) and A♯ (right hand)
Arpeggios
2 octaves · hands together
- A major
- E major
- B major
- F♯ major
- A♭ major
- D♭ major
- F♯ minor
- C♯ minor
- G♯ minor
- E♭ minor
- F minor
- B♭ minor
Diminished sevenths
2 octaves · hands separately
- Starting on B
In the exam
Everything is played from memory, in even notes and without pedal, legato unless a requirement says staccato. The examiner asks for a key (and which hand, when it's hands separately) and will usually ask for at least one of each type. For hands together the hands play an octave apart, and you can start in any octave as long as you cover the range. Any fingering that works is accepted — the standard fingering shown in the player is a safe choice.
The speeds are ABRSM's general guide and are counted in quavers. Practise slowly and evenly first, then use the speed trainer to work up to the guide speed.
Requirements checked against ABRSM's Piano Practical Grades syllabus for 2025 & 2026 and 2027 & 2028 (the scales are the same in both). Music Scale isn't affiliated with ABRSM — always check the official syllabus before your exam.