Three-octave scales, Carl Flesch fingering

Flesch’s approach features overall uniformity
of fingerings, non-specific to key. There are
essentially only three sets of fingerings for
major scales and three for minor: the open
string, the first-finger beginning, and the
second-finger
beginning. The added notes in grey borrow from
the Galamian system; with these, the scale
becomes 48 notes, and can be played using a
constant bow speed, one bow per two metro-
nome clicks, with 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, & 24 notes
per bow.

G major: 1234 10 3210

02101234 12–123412–1234–4–4321–4321032 321021

g minor: 02101234 123 4 12–123412–1234–432–321-–321432 103210 321021

(melodic)
b 1234 1 21
A major: 1321234 2–123412–12–1 234–4321–321–2143 4321432132
(see A major)
# 1234 12–12 3 14321
g minor: 13212–234 12–1234 4–432–321–321432 432–2132
(see g minor)
A major: 1234 1 210 3210
1321234 2–123412–12–1 234–4321–321–2103 32132

a minor: 1 2–123412–12–123432–321–432143 21
13212341234 4321432132
b b 1 3 321
B –G maj:† 2432341234 2–123412–12–12 4–4–4321–321–3214 432143243

b # 1 3 1–21
b –f min: 2432341234 2–123412–12–12 4–432–321–321432 432143243
b
†
In the key of B , open strings should be used for A and D on the descent.

GENERALIZATIONS:
• All scales start on G string
• All shifts occur on A & E strings
• All scales use fourth finger on ascent and open strings, where possible, on
the descent.
• Upward shifts are always by thirds, using 2–1 shifts.
• Downward shifts are always on half-step intervals.
#
•The g minor scale, with the 2-2 shift on the G string, is the sole exception to the above four
rules.

QUESTIONS TO PONDER:
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of beginning all scales on
the G string?
• If uniformity is the goal, why not simply use the first-finger beginning for
everything except G scales?
 #
• Why use the “modified g minor” for g minor? Why not use the a minor
fingering?
• Why do some of the flat and sharp keys appear to be inconsistently spelled? For
b # b #
example, why A major and g minor? Or G major and f minor? (Hint:
Look them up in the book)
• Is there a more efficient way of condensing the same amount of
information?
© P. Vanderwerf
1996