Canon in D (Simplified, in C)

Pachelbel's famous bass line with the melody above it, moved to C major.

Level:
6 of 6
Hands:
Both hands
Key:
C major
Notes:
16
Range:
C2 to E5
One run:
about 13 seconds at 80 bpm

The notes, in order

8 moments, 16 notes in total, some struck together.

  1. C3 + E5
  2. G2 + D5
  3. A2 + C5
  4. E2 + B4
  5. F2 + A4
  6. C2 + G4
  7. F2 + A4
  8. G2 + B4

How to practise it

  1. The left hand plays the eight-note bass that the whole piece is built on
  2. Both hands move together, one note per two beats
  3. Once it is comfortable, improvise a right-hand line over the same bass

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 16 notes.

What it trains

  • classical
  • hands together
  • progression

More melodies

Real tunes, so there is something to play once the drills have paid off.

All piano exercises