Chopin Op. 10 No. 2: Study in A minor: tempo and how to practice it

Chopin Op. 10 No. 2: Study in A minor is part of “12 Études, Op. 10” by Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849). Main focus: chromatic scale with fingers 3, 4 and 5 of the right hand. In our transcription it is in A minor, in 4/4 time, and 49 bars long. Suggested tempos: start at ♩ = 72 to learn it, practice at ♩ = 112 and work up to the target of ♩ = 144. Difficulty 8/10 (advanced).

The pattern and its fingering

First bar of our transcription, note by note, with the fingering the app shows.

Right hand	C–E–A–A♯–B–C–E–A–C♯–D–D♯–E–A–D–F–F♯–G–G♯–D–F–A–A♯–B–C
Left hand	A–E–A–C–A–F–A–D

■ right hand (finger above) · ■ left hand (finger below)

What it trains

Chromatic scale with fingers 3, 4 and 5 of the right hand.
Light simultaneous chords with fingers 1 and 2.

How to practice it

Start very slowly with minimal pedal so you can hear every note.
Keep to short sessions: fatigue leads to tension and injury.
Raise the tempo only when your hand is relaxed at the current speed.

Tempo ladder: ♩ = 72 → ♩ = 92 → ♩ = 112 → ♩ = 128 → ♩ = 144. Only move up a step once the take comes out clean; in the app, the progressive metronome does it for you.

Composer	Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849)
Work	12 Études, Op. 10
Difficulty	8/10 · Advanced
Key	A minor
Time signature	4/4
Bars	49
Suggested tempos	learn ♩ = 72 · practice ♩ = 112 · target ♩ = 144
Where the target tempo comes from	composer's metronome mark (♩ = 144), from the first edition of the Études Op. 10 (Chopin)
Transposable	no
Status in the app	Available
Copyright	public domain: Chopin died in 1849