What is the hardest scale on the flute?

[moongirl]

To me, the A flat scale is the hardest. Whats the hardest for you?

[cflutist]

Once you practice them, they are all about the same.

[fluttiegurl]

For me, B natural was a nightmare to learn. I had a bad audition experience early on that caused a mental block when it came to that scale. It took me years to overcome, even though it had nothing to do with the scale, just my mind getting the best of me.

[pied_piper]

It's really a mental thing. The hardest scale is the one that you "think" is the hardest. Similar to what cflutist said, once you have learned all of the notes on the flute, the scales are all essentially equal. It has more to do with familiarity. Most music is often written in keys with 4 or fewer flats or sharps. Since we play in those keys more often, we are more familiar with them, so they may seem easier than keys with more flats or sharps.

[fluteguy18]

I agree. It's all very much the same once you learn them all. If I had to choose just one though it would have to be an easier one like E minor or D# minor. But this is just an ear training issue for me. The fingerings are fine, but when I'm playing them in some convoluted pattern I keep wanting to throw in something extra or take something out and accidentally turn it into A major. To my ear (when playing casually) the timber of the E's and A (naturals) are very similar. They're bright and sparkling and sweet on the ear. Since I go more by ear than by anything, I sometimes get confused.

In terms of fingerings... B major (for me), but only around the extremes in the register (the high turnaround to go back down and the switch between low C# and low B). But even then... I eventually became comfortable with them and they're not an issue.

[Phineas]

As others have mentioned, The hardest scale to play is the one that you do not practice on. I tell my students to practice all of their scales all of the time. Then the only pitfall they will have is sight reading in keys with a lot of sharps and flats. Playing by ear, all scales are equal. Every scale has awkward fingering at some point even the C scale. These things just have to be over come with good developed habits.