Chopin Op. 10 No. 4: Study in C♯ minor: tempo and how to practice it

Chopin Op. 10 No. 4: Study in C♯ minor is part of “12 Études, Op. 10” by Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849). Main focus: very fast sixteenth notes passed from one hand to the other. In our transcription it is in C♯ minor, in 4/4 time, and 83 bars long. Suggested tempos: start at ♩ = 88 to learn it, practice at ♩ = 138 and work up to the target of ♩ = 176. Difficulty 9/10 (concert).

The pattern and its fingering

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

Right hand	G♯–G♯–F♯–E–D♯
Left hand	G♯–G♯

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

What it trains

Very fast sixteenth notes passed from one hand to the other.
Precision and energy without losing clarity.

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: ♩ = 88 → ♩ = 113 → ♩ = 138 → ♩ = 157 → ♩ = 176. 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	9/10 · Concert
Key	C♯ minor
Time signature	4/4
Bars	83
Suggested tempos	learn ♩ = 88 · practice ♩ = 138 · target ♩ = 176
Where the target tempo comes from	composer's metronome mark (half note = 88 (equals ♩ = 176)), from the first edition of the Études Op. 10 (Chopin)
Transposable	no
Status in the app	Available
Copyright	public domain: Chopin died in 1849