Contrary Motion Scale
Both hands play the C major scale in opposite directions at the same time.
- Level:
- 5 of 6
- Hands:
- Both hands
- Key:
- C major
- Notes:
- 30
- Range:
- C3 to C5
- One run:
- about 12 seconds at 80 bpm
The notes, in order
15 moments, 30 notes in total, some struck together.
- C4 + C4
- B3 + D4
- A3 + E4
- G3 + F4
- F3 + G4
- E3 + A4
- D3 + B4
- C3 + C5
- D3 + B4
- E3 + A4
- F3 + G4
- G3 + F4
- A3 + E4
- B3 + D4
- C4 + C4
How to practise it
- Right hand goes up while left hand goes down
- Both thumbs start on middle C
- Go very slowly, this is hard at first
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 30 notes.
What it trains
- contrary motion
- hands together
- scale
More coordination
The two hands doing different things at the same time.
- Arpeggio, Both Hands (level 5)
- Melody Over Chords (level 5)
- Two Rhythms at Once (level 5)
- Parallel Tenths (Both Hands) (level 6)
- Offbeat Hands (level 6)
- Contrary Motion: Five Fingers (level 3)