Broken Pattern (Left Hand)

A rolling left-hand figure inside C position: the base of most accompaniments.

Level:
2 of 6
Hands:
Left hand
Key:
C major
Notes:
13
Range:
C3 to G3
One run:
about 6 seconds at 80 bpm

The notes, in order

13 notes, one at a time, with the finger to play each one in brackets.

  1. C3 (5)
  2. E3 (3)
  3. G3 (1)
  4. E3 (3)
  5. D3 (4)
  6. F3 (2)
  7. G3 (1)
  8. F3 (2)
  9. E3 (3)
  10. G3 (1)
  11. F3 (2)
  12. E3 (3)
  13. C3 (5)

How to practise it

  1. Pattern: 5-3-1-3, then the same shape a step higher
  2. Keep the volume even, the thumb tends to play too loud
  3. Aim for a smooth roll with no bumps

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 13 notes.

What it trains

  • accompaniment
  • independence

More five-finger patterns

One hand position, five notes, no thumb tucks. Where everything else starts.

All piano exercises