Chopin Op. 10 No. 5: Study in G♭ major (“Black Keys”): tempo and how to practice it

Chopin Op. 10 No. 5: Study in G♭ major (“Black Keys”) is part of “12 Études, Op. 10” by Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849). Main focus: fast right-hand figuration almost entirely on the black keys. In our transcription it is in G♭ major, in 2/4 time, and 85 bars long. Suggested tempos: start at ♩ = 58 to learn it, practice at ♩ = 92 and work up to the target of ♩ = 116. 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♭–B♭–D♭–G♭–E♭–G♭–D♭–G♭–B♭–D♭–G♭–B♭
Left hand	G♭–B♭–D♭–G♭–G♭–C♭–E♭–G♭–G♭–B♭–D♭–G♭

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

What it trains

Fast right-hand figuration almost entirely on the black keys.
Lightness and sparkle with a very loose hand.

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: ♩ = 58 → ♩ = 75 → ♩ = 92 → ♩ = 104 → ♩ = 116. 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	G♭ major
Time signature	2/4
Bars	85
Suggested tempos	learn ♩ = 58 · practice ♩ = 92 · target ♩ = 116
Where the target tempo comes from	composer's metronome mark (♩ = 116), from the first edition of the Études Op. 10 (Chopin)
Transposable	no
Status in the app	Available
Copyright	public domain: Chopin died in 1849