How to Practice Hanon: Method, Tempos and Common Mistakes

To get the most out of Hanon, work on one or two exercises a day for 10–15 minutes: hands separately and slowly first (♩ = 60, as Hanon’s preface asks), then hands together, and only raise the metronome by 4 once the exercise comes out even three times in a row, up to ♩ = 108. Listen for evenness of sound and timing between the fingers, not speed, and stop as soon as you feel tension in the wrist or forearm.

A 15-minute session

1. 3 min · right hand alone at ♩ = 60, listening for the 4th and 5th fingers to sound just like the 1st and 2nd.
2. 3 min · left hand alone, the same way. It is usually the one that needs it most.
3. 5 min · hands together at the fastest tempo that stays clean. If a take comes out uneven, drop the metronome by 8.
4. 4 min · one variation (below): rhythms, staccato or transposing.

The tempo ladder

Start at ♩ = 60 and go up by 4 every time the exercise comes out even three times in a row: 60 → 64 → 68 … → 108. That is twelve steps; there is no need to climb them all in one week. You can move on to the next exercise once the current one is clean at a comfortable tempo (say ♩ = 80) and come back to it later.

Variations that pay off

• Dotted rhythms (long-short and short-long): they force every finger to get ready in time.
• Staccato and legato: the same pattern with two different touches.
• Dynamics: all piano, all forte, crescendo going up and diminuendo coming down.
• Transposing: the Part I exercises can be played in all 12 keys; the black keys change the hand position and the fingering needs more attention.

Common mistakes

• Speeding up too soon: speed without evenness only makes the unevenness automatic.
• Playing on autopilot: Hanon is repetitive on purpose; if you are not listening, it does nothing.
• Lifting the fingers stiffly or pressing into the keys: the weight comes from the arm and the hand stays loose.
• Long sessions: more than 20 minutes of Hanon in a row tires the hand without teaching it more.
• Neglecting the left hand: give it as much solo work as the right.

With the app

Estudio de Piano climbs the ladder for you: the progressive metronome only raises the tempo once the take is clean, and the report shows which notes and bars came out uneven or out of time, with the microphone next to your piano or a MIDI keyboard.

Frequently asked questions

How long should I practice Hanon each day?

10 to 15 minutes a day is enough. More than 20 minutes in a row tires the hand without improving technique.

How fast should Hanon be played?

Hanon’s preface says to start at ♩ = 60 and work up to ♩ = 108 in sixteenth notes. Only speed up when the exercise comes out even.

Does Hanon actually work?

It builds evenness, independence and stamina in the fingers if you practice it slowly, listening and without tension. It does not replace scales, études or repertoire: it is a short part of the session.

Should I transpose Hanon?

It is not required, but playing the Part I exercises in other keys makes the hand adapt to the black keys and is a good variation once they are clean in C major.

The table with all 60: Hanon exercises, complete list. To start, exercise No. 1.