Chopin Op. 10 No. 10: Study in A♭ major: tempo and how to practice it

Chopin Op. 10 No. 10: Study in A♭ major is part of “12 Études, Op. 10” by Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849). Main focus: changes of articulation and accentuation on the same figure. In our transcription it is in A♭ major, in 12/8 time, and 78 bars long. Suggested tempos: start at ♩ = 114 to learn it, practice at ♩ = 180 and work up to the target of ♩ = 228. Difficulty 10/10 (concert).

The pattern and its fingering

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

Right hand	E♭
Left hand	A♭–C–A♭–E♭–E♭–E♭–A♭–A♭–C–A♭–E♭–E♭–E♭–A♭

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

What it trains

Changes of articulation and accentuation on the same figure.
Fine control of touch and phrasing.

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: ♩ = 114 → ♩ = 147 → ♩ = 180 → ♩ = 204 → ♩ = 228. 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	10/10 · Concert
Key	A♭ major
Time signature	12/8
Bars	78
Suggested tempos	learn ♩ = 114 · practice ♩ = 180 · target ♩ = 228
Where the target tempo comes from	composer's metronome mark (♩. = 152 (equals ♩ = 228)), from the first edition of the Études Op. 10 (Chopin)
Transposable	no
Status in the app	Available
Copyright	public domain: Chopin died in 1849