Piccolo · treble clef
Piccolo Scales
All 12 major scales for piccolo, one octave each, with the fingering for every note. Tap a note to see it larger, or play the whole scale.
C major
The left thumb comes off.
Like low D, but lift the left index finger.
Uses the same fingering as low E; blow faster air.
Uses the same fingering as low F; blow faster air.
Uses the same fingering as low G; blow faster air.
Uses the same fingering as low A; blow faster air.
Uses the same fingering as the lower B; blow faster air.
Same fingering as the C in the staff (C5); blow faster air.
F major
Uses the same fingering as low F; blow faster air.
Uses the same fingering as low G; blow faster air.
Uses the same fingering as low A; blow faster air.
Same as the lower B♭; blow faster air. Thumb B♭ sounds clearer and more in tune on piccolo than one-and-one.
Same fingering as the C in the staff (C5); blow faster air.
Like the D in the staff (D5), but lift the right index, middle and ring fingers and put the pinky down.
Left ring finger is lifted, unlike the lower E.
Left middle finger is lifted.
B♭ major
Thumb B♭ sounds clearer and more in tune on piccolo than one-and-one.
The left thumb comes off.
Like low D, but lift the left index finger.
Like low D♯, but lift the left index finger.
Uses the same fingering as low F; blow faster air.
Uses the same fingering as low G; blow faster air.
Uses the same fingering as low A; blow faster air.
Same as the lower B♭; blow faster air. Thumb B♭ sounds clearer and more in tune on piccolo than one-and-one.
E♭ major
Like low D♯, but lift the left index finger.
Uses the same fingering as low F; blow faster air.
Uses the same fingering as low G; blow faster air.
Uses the same fingering as low G♯; blow faster air.
Same as the lower B♭; blow faster air. Thumb B♭ sounds clearer and more in tune on piccolo than one-and-one.
Same fingering as the C in the staff (C5); blow faster air.
Like the D in the staff (D5), but lift the right index, middle and ring fingers and put the pinky down.
Every finger down plus the G♯ key; not the same as the lower D♯ fingerings.
A♭ major
Left pinky presses the G♯ key.
Thumb B♭ sounds clearer and more in tune on piccolo than one-and-one.
The left thumb comes off.
Only the right pinky stays down; this note can sound weak, so keep the air focused.
Like low D♯, but lift the left index finger.
Uses the same fingering as low F; blow faster air.
Uses the same fingering as low G; blow faster air.
Uses the same fingering as low G♯; blow faster air.
D♭ major
Only the right pinky stays down; this note can sound weak, so keep the air focused.
Like low D♯, but lift the left index finger.
Uses the same fingering as low F; blow faster air.
Uses the same fingering as low F♯; blow faster air.
Uses the same fingering as low G♯; blow faster air.
Same as the lower B♭; blow faster air. Thumb B♭ sounds clearer and more in tune on piccolo than one-and-one.
Same fingering as the C in the staff (C5); blow faster air.
Pitch on this note varies from piccolo to piccolo, so check it with a tuner. If it is sharp, the right-hand-down alternate brings it down.
G♭ major
Use the right ring finger, not the middle finger.
Left pinky presses the G♯ key.
Thumb B♭ sounds clearer and more in tune on piccolo than one-and-one.
Only the right pinky stays down; this note can sound weak, so keep the air focused.
Like low D♯, but lift the left index finger.
Uses the same fingering as low F; blow faster air.
Uses the same fingering as low F♯; blow faster air.
B major
Only the right pinky stays down; this note can sound weak, so keep the air focused.
Like low D♯, but lift the left index finger.
Uses the same fingering as low E; blow faster air.
Uses the same fingering as low F♯; blow faster air.
Uses the same fingering as low G♯; blow faster air.
Same as the lower B♭; blow faster air. Thumb B♭ sounds clearer and more in tune on piccolo than one-and-one.
Uses the same fingering as the lower B; blow faster air.
E major
Uses the same fingering as low E; blow faster air.
Uses the same fingering as low F♯; blow faster air.
Uses the same fingering as low G♯; blow faster air.
Uses the same fingering as low A; blow faster air.
Uses the same fingering as the lower B; blow faster air.
Pitch on this note varies from piccolo to piccolo, so check it with a tuner. If it is sharp, the right-hand-down alternate brings it down.
Every finger down plus the G♯ key; not the same as the lower D♯ fingerings.
Left ring finger is lifted, unlike the lower E.
A major
Only the right pinky stays down; this note can sound weak, so keep the air focused.
Like low D, but lift the left index finger.
Uses the same fingering as low E; blow faster air.
Uses the same fingering as low F♯; blow faster air.
Uses the same fingering as low G♯; blow faster air.
Uses the same fingering as low A; blow faster air.
D major
Like low D, but lift the left index finger.
Uses the same fingering as low E; blow faster air.
Uses the same fingering as low F♯; blow faster air.
Uses the same fingering as low G; blow faster air.
Uses the same fingering as low A; blow faster air.
Uses the same fingering as the lower B; blow faster air.
Pitch on this note varies from piccolo to piccolo, so check it with a tuner. If it is sharp, the right-hand-down alternate brings it down.
Like the D in the staff (D5), but lift the right index, middle and ring fingers and put the pinky down.
G major
The left thumb comes off.
Like low D, but lift the left index finger.
Uses the same fingering as low E; blow faster air.
Uses the same fingering as low F♯; blow faster air.
Uses the same fingering as low G; blow faster air.
About these scales
Each scale is shown in the octave that sits most comfortably on the instrument.
For the full range and alternate fingerings, see the piccolo fingering chart.