Teaching 5-finger patterns!

By Dr. Nancy Allred

I have taught 5-finger patterns to students throughout my entire teaching career. Here are some
of my favorite tips for teaching these wonderful technical exercises.

5-finger Patterns are the basis for helping students to learn the following:

1. Keys
2. Chords
3. Major-minor
4. Technique
5. Hand position
6. Wrist motion

Tips for teaching 5-finger patterns:

• Learn 5-finger patterns (major) in all positions - parallel motion.
• HA (hands alone) first, and then hands together (HT).
• Play each 3 times in a row, then play the next key (C – G – D – etc.) 

through the circle of 5ths.

• Play quarter notes, m=60, with the goal of m=120.
• Play 8th notes, m=60, with the goal of m=120.
• Play 16th notes, m=60 with the goal of m=120. 
• Then play quarters-8ths-16ths, m=60 with the goal of m=120 

(See Rhythm #3).

Remember: When the tempo is “easy” then you can move to the next tempo. 

The right tempo is the easy, relaxed, accurate tempo!

Tips for a student that struggles with rhythm:

• Learn 5-finger patterns through circle of 5ths - 3x each
• Play 16th notes m=60 (4 notes per tick).
• If student is successful, follow the steps 

with the goal of playing quarters-8ths-16ths, m=120 

(Rhythm #3).

• If a student cannot play 16th notes, test to see if student 

can play 8th notes m=60 (2 notes per tick).

• If student is successful with 8th notes, 

then work on 8th notes m=60 

with goal of m=120

• Then play half notes, quarter notes, and 8th notes m=60, 

with the goal of m=120 (Rhythm #2).

• If a student cannot play 8th notes, test to see if student can play 

quarter notes m=60 (1 note per tick).

• If student is successful with quarter notes, 

then work on quarter notes m=60, with goal of m=120.

• Then play whole notes, half notes, and quarter notes m=60 

with goal of m=120 (Rhythm #1).

If a student cannot play quarter notes with the metronome (1 note per tick), 

here are more detailed steps:

• Play the 5-finger patterns in quarter notes (1 note per tick) in all positions/keys

 through the circle of 5ths.

• Count first and play quarter notes.
• Then play m=60 in quarter notes, with goal of m=120.

• If problematic, play 5-finger patterns in half notes (1-2, 1-2) on each half note.
• Count first and play half notes.
• Then play m=60 in half notes, with goal of m=120.

• If problematic, play the 5-finger Patterns in whole notes (1-2-3-4) 

on each whole note.

• Count first and play whole notes.
• Then play m=60 in whole notes, with goal of m=120.

Remember:

• This is time consuming, so I will pick up to 4 patterns a week, 

and do whole notes, counting, and then whole notes with the metronome.

Then I continue on through the steps, with the goal of 

Rhythm #1 (m=60 up to 120), 

and then Rhythm #2 (m=60 up to 120), 

and Rhythm #3 (m=60 up to 120).

• It is important that students match the steadiness of their playing 

to the metronome.

• Practicing in half notes or whole notes can help a student

“hear” the metronome, as they have time to think in between 

the beats, and time to hear. I have had a lot of success with 

this approach, but it does take a lot of patience and a lot of time.

5-finger Patterns - Chromatic order

• Learn 5-finger patterns (major) in the chromatic order – C – C# - D etc.
• Goal is m=120.

5-finger patterns – Minor (through the 5ths and then chromatic order)

• Learn 5-finger patterns (minor) - first through the circle of 5ths, 

then in chromatic order.

• Goal is m=120.

5-finger patterns - Contrary motion (through the 5ths and then chromatic order)

• Learn 5-finger patterns in contrary motion - first through the circle of 5ths, then in chromatic order.
• Goal is m=120.

Outline: Teaching those marvelous 5-finger patterns

PDF files: 5-finger Patterns - PDF Files

YouTube Channel: Piano Q&A

How to Teach 5-finger Patterns - Pt 1

How to Teach 5-finger Patterns - Pt 2

How to Teach 5-finger Patterns - Pt 3