Chopin Op. 10 No. 3: Study in E major (“Tristesse”): tempo and how to practice it

Chopin Op. 10 No. 3: Study in E major (“Tristesse”) is part of “12 Études, Op. 10” by Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849). Main focus: a singing melody in the top voice with accompaniment in the same hand. Suggested tempos: start at ♩ = 25 to learn it, practice at ♩ = 38 and work up to the target of ♩ = 50. Difficulty 8/10 (advanced).

What it trains

• A singing melody in the top voice with accompaniment in the same hand.
• Finger legato and pedal control.

How to practice it

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

Tempo ladder: ♩ = 25 → ♩ = 32 → ♩ = 38 → ♩ = 44 → ♩ = 50. Only move up a step once the take comes out clean; in the app, the progressive metronome does it for you.