ABRSM Grade 8 Piano Scales & Arpeggios

All 47 scales and arpeggios for ABRSM Grade 8 piano (2025–2028 syllabus): 33 scales and 14 arpeggios across 8 keys. Practise each one with the right range, hands and fingering, and tick it off when it's ready.

Ready0 / 47Tick each one off when you can play it from memory

Scales — guide speed𝅗𝅥 = 88in quavers: 4 notes per minim

Arpeggios — guide speed𝅗𝅥 = 66in quavers: 4 notes per minim

Scales

4 octaves · hands together · legato or staccato (examiner's choice)

C major
E♭ major
F♯ major
A major
C minor (harmonic)
C minor (melodic)
E♭ minor (harmonic)
E♭ minor (melodic)
F♯ minor (harmonic)
F♯ minor (melodic)
A minor (harmonic)
A minor (melodic)

Scales a sixth apart

4 octaves · hands together · legato or staccato (examiner's choice) · guide speed 𝅗𝅥 = 60

C major
E♭ major
F♯ major
A major
C minor (harmonic)
E♭ minor (harmonic)
F♯ minor (harmonic)
A minor (harmonic)

Contrary-motion scales

2 octaves · hands starting on the same note · legato or staccato (examiner's choice)

C major
E♭ major
F♯ major
A major
C minor (harmonic)
E♭ minor (harmonic)
F♯ minor (harmonic)
A minor (harmonic)

Legato scale in thirds

2 octaves · hands separately · guide speed 𝅗𝅥 = 52

E♭ major

Staccato scale in sixths

2 octaves · hands separately · staccato · guide speed 𝅗𝅥 = 54

C major

Chromatic scale a major sixth apart

4 octaves · hands a major 6th apart · legato or staccato (examiner's choice) · guide speed 𝅗𝅥 = 60

Starting on E♭ (left hand) and C (right hand)

Whole-tone scales

4 octaves · hands together · legato or staccato (examiner's choice)

Starting on E♭
Starting on C

Arpeggios

4 octaves · hands together · second inversion only

C major
E♭ major
F♯ major
A major
C minor
E♭ minor
F♯ minor
A minor

Dominant sevenths

4 octaves · hands together · resolving on the tonic

In the key of C major
In the key of E♭ major
In the key of F♯ major
In the key of A major

Diminished sevenths

4 octaves · hands together

Starting on E♭
Starting on C

In the exam

Everything is played from memory, in even notes and without pedal. Where it says legato or staccato, the examiner chooses — so practise both. 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.

Minor scales are needed in both the harmonic and the melodic form — they're listed separately above. Dominant sevenths must finish by resolving on the tonic. Scales in thirds or a third apart start with the tonic as the lower note; scales in sixths or a sixth apart start with the tonic as the upper note.

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.