C Pentascale and Chord, Major and Minor

Five notes up and back, block the chord, then the same again in minor.

Level:
2 of 6
Hands:
Both hands
Key:
C major
Notes:
48
Range:
C3 to G4
One run:
about 18 seconds at 80 bpm

The notes, in order

20 moments, 48 notes in total, some struck together, with the finger to play each one in brackets.

  1. C3 + C4 (5 + 1)
  2. D3 + D4 (4 + 2)
  3. E3 + E4 (3 + 3)
  4. F3 + F4 (2 + 4)
  5. G3 + G4 (1 + 5)
  6. F3 + F4 (2 + 4)
  7. E3 + E4 (3 + 3)
  8. D3 + D4 (4 + 2)
  9. C3 + C4 (5 + 1)
  10. C3 + E3 + G3 + C4 + E4 + G4
  11. C3 + C4 (5 + 1)
  12. D3 + D4 (4 + 2)
  13. Eb3 + Eb4 (3 + 3)
  14. F3 + F4 (2 + 4)
  15. G3 + G4 (1 + 5)
  16. F3 + F4 (2 + 4)
  17. Eb3 + Eb4 (3 + 3)
  18. D3 + D4 (4 + 2)
  19. C3 + C4 (5 + 1)
  20. C3 + Eb3 + G3 + C4 + Eb4 + G4

How to practise it

  1. Right hand thumb on C, left hand finger 5 an octave lower: C-D-E-F-G
  2. Play the five notes up and back, then block the chord with fingers 1, 3 and 5
  3. The minor version lowers only the middle finger, half a step. Everything else stays put
  4. C minor lowers E to E flat: the only black key in the whole drill

The scale behind it

This one is built on the C Major scale: C D E F G A B (no sharps or flats). Its right-hand fingering runs 1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5, and the scale page has the full diagram if you want to hear the shape on its own first.

How to play it here

Play along on the keys with your mouse, your computer keyboard, a touch screen, or a MIDI keyboard you have plugged in. Every key can show its own name, and the metronome will hold the tempo while you work through the 48 notes.

What it trains

  • adult beginner
  • pentascale
  • hand position
  • hands together
  • chords
  • minor

More adult beginner course

Piano for adult beginners, in the order the method books teach it: black keys and finger numbers, Middle C, pentascales, primary chords, then real pieces with both hands.

All piano exercises