Chopin Op. 10 No. 12: Study in C minor (“Revolutionary”): tempo and how to practice it

Chopin Op. 10 No. 12: Study in C minor (“Revolutionary”) is part of “12 Études, Op. 10” by Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849). Main focus: fast left-hand passages (scales and arpeggios) across the whole low register. In our transcription it is in C minor, in 4/4 time, and 84 bars long. Suggested tempos: start at ♩ = 80 to learn it, practice at ♩ = 126 and work up to the target of ♩ = 160. 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	B–D–F–G–B
Left hand	A♭–G–F–D–E♭–D–B–G–A♭–G–F–D–E♭–D

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

What it trains

Fast left-hand passages (scales and arpeggios) across the whole low register.
Energetic right-hand octaves and chords with the left hand always clear.

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: ♩ = 80 → ♩ = 103 → ♩ = 126 → ♩ = 143 → ♩ = 160. 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	C minor
Time signature	4/4
Bars	84
Suggested tempos	learn ♩ = 80 · practice ♩ = 126 · target ♩ = 160
Where the target tempo comes from	composer's metronome mark (♩ = 160), from the first edition of the Études Op. 10 (Chopin)
Transposable	no
Status in the app	Available
Copyright	public domain: Chopin died in 1849