Unit 5 — Two hands
The left hand finds its own C position, an octave below middle C: C, D and E in the bass, with the G and F from Unit 3. Then both staves at once, first one note in each hand, then tunes over a simple bass.
Songs in this unit
The left hand finds its own C position, an octave below middle C: bass C, D and E, which with G and F from Unit 3 give the left hand five notes, C3 to G3. Then you read both staves at once: one note in each hand struck together, then tunes over a simple bass.
- Prerequisite: Unit 4.
- New notes: C3, D3 and E3, on the bass staff.
- Landmark: bass C.
The new notes
| Note | On the bass staff | On the keys | Left-hand finger (C position) |
|---|---|---|---|
| C3 | The second space | The C an octave below middle C | 5 |
| D3 | The middle line | The first D below middle C | 4 |
| E3 | The third space | The first E below middle C | 3 |
With F3 (2) and G3 (1, the thumb) from Unit 3, that is the left hand's C position: little finger on bass C, thumb on G.
The sittings, in order
- Meet bass C, D and E. Bass C in the second space: the left hand's C position, C3 to G3.
- Note cards.
- Mix. Play it, find it on the staff, name it, which is higher, and a lightning round.
- Five-finger position (lesson). Both hands in C position, an octave apart.
- C major scale, left hand (lesson). On the way up, finger 3 crosses over the thumb.
- Read with both hands. Pages for either hand, on the grand staff.
- Both hands at once. One note in each hand, struck together: read the two staves as one moment.
- Use it: Mary, with bass. The tune over long bass notes.
- Use it: Ode to Joy, with bass.
- Use it: Twinkle, with bass. The bass changes every half note.
- Checkpoint. Cards, a short mix and a phrase.
Teaching notes
- C3 is bass C, the second space: the left little finger's key, and a landmark for the lower half of the bass staff.
- D3 is the middle line, a step above bass C. E3 is the third space.
- Two left-hand positions. The left hand now has middle C position (Unit 3, thumb on middle C) and C position (little finger on C3). Name which one before each piece.
- Read vertically. Notes that line up are played together. Take in the moment as one shape.
- The left-hand scale. Going up, the left hand plays 5 4 3 2 1 from C to G, then finger 3 crosses over the thumb to A and 2 and 1 finish B and C.
Common mistakes
- The right hand waiting for the left. Read the two notes of a moment together, as one chord shape, and play them at once.
- The left hand drifting up an octave. Check bass C against middle C: eight white keys apart.
- Letting go of the bass too soon. A long bass note should sound under the moving tune. Keep it down.
Related guides
Next: Unit 6 — Steps and skips. Back to the whole path.