Thirds Drill (Left Hand)

The same skipping pattern an octave down, where the fingers are weaker.

Level:
3 of 6
Hands:
Left hand
Key:
C major
Notes:
10
Range:
C3 to G3
One run:
about 6 seconds at 80 bpm

The notes, in order

10 notes, one at a time.

  1. C3
  2. E3
  3. D3
  4. F3
  5. E3
  6. G3
  7. F3
  8. D3
  9. E3
  10. C3

How to practise it

  1. Fingers 5 and 3, then 4 and 2, then 3 and 1
  2. The left hand tires faster, so stop before it gets tense
  3. Listen for two equally loud notes in every pair

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 10 notes.

What it trains

  • thirds
  • independence

More dexterity drills

Finger independence and evenness. Dull on purpose, and the fastest way to a cleaner hand.

All piano exercises