C position, left hand

Lesson 16 of 72 · The same notes, an octave lower, on the left

In this lesson, you will:

Put your left hand in C position
Play with fingers 5 to 1 of your left hand
Play a melody and bass notes on the left

1. Learn: The left hand in C position

Put your left pinky (5) on the C just below middle C, then 4 on D, 3 on E, 2 on F and your thumb (1) on G.

Careful: on the left, the numbers go the other way. When the melody goes up, the numbers go down: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

Why this way: We work on each hand separately before putting them together. Your left hand needs its own practice: it’s often the shy one at first!

2. Guided play: Five fingers on the left

Go up (5-4-3-2-1) and come back down (1-2-3-4-5).

3. Quiz: Left-hand fingers

Left hand in C position: which finger plays G?
And C?
And E?
Your left thumb is…

4. Practice: Listen and play back, left hand

Melodies in the low C position, with your left hand. The first note lights up.

5. Guided play: Au clair de la lune, left hand

The song you know, an octave lower, with your left hand: C with 5, D with 4, E with 3.

6. Piece: Five fingers on the left

The five fingers of your left hand, in rhythm. The computer plays chords on the right. Go up from C to G with your left hand (5-4-3-2-1), then back down.

7. Piece: The Ode to Joy bass

Your first job as a bass player: C and G, one whole note per measure, under Ode to Joy. One whole note per measure: C (finger 5) or G (thumb). The computer plays the melody you already know.

To practice

The left hand: Low C position and your first bass notes

← Lesson 15: The whole note and the measure Lesson 17: Alternating hands →