Right Hand Melody
Train the right hand to read and play melody: from the basic 5-finger C position through skips, accidentals, chromatic runs, and three major scales (C, G, F). Single treble staff with fingering numbers.
12 lessons
C Position — 5 Fingers
Place all five fingers on C D E F G and play stepwise up and down. Finger numbers are shown above each note. This is the most fundamental exercise — train your hand to find each key without looking.
Expand to Full Octave
Extend the 5-finger position to cover a full octave: C D E F G A B C. The hand shifts naturally when reaching A B C. Practice feeling the distance without looking at the keys.
Skips — Thirds
Instead of stepwise motion, jump over one note at a time (thirds): C→E, D→F, G→E. This trains your fingers to jump accurately over larger intervals and lays the groundwork for playing arpeggios.
Skips — Fourths and Fifths
Jump larger intervals: fourths (C→F) and fifths (C→G). These are the widest jumps commonly found in melody. Your hand must open wider and land precisely without visual assistance.
Accidental — F# (G Major Feel)
Introduces the first black key: F# (between F and G). The melody takes on a G major color. Train your finger to reach into the black key naturally without shifting the wrist.
Accidentals — Bb and Eb
Introduces two flat notes: Bb and Eb. The melody takes on a minor/blues character. Practice recognizing the "darker" feeling when flats appear and locating the black keys by touch.
Chromatic Run
Every note is exactly one half-step (semitone) apart — white and black keys in sequence. All 12 notes appear in this exercise. Fingers must be equally agile on both white and black keys.
C Major Scale — Thumb Crossing
C major scale over one octave using proper thumb-under technique. Finger 1 passes under finger 3 at the E→F transition. Fingering numbers mark the crossing point clearly. This technique is essential for playing any scale continuously.
G Major Scale
G major scale over one octave — this key includes F#. The finger must reach slightly into the black key on F#. Fingering numbers at the F# position help avoid mistakes.
F Major Scale
F major scale over one octave — this key includes Bb. Important: the thumb crossing happens after finger 4 (at Bb), not finger 3 as in C/G major. Fingering numbers mark this difference clearly.
High and Low Register
The right hand travels across multiple octaves — from C3 (low) up to G5 (high). In real songs, melody often spans a wide range. This exercise trains fast, confident position shifts without looking.
Review — Full Chromatic Melody
A comprehensive review of Course 1: combining stepwise motion, skips, black keys (F#, Bb, Eb), and octave jumps in a single melody. This is the full right-hand skills test before moving to chord study.