Unit 8
G Position
New: Moving the hands to G; fourths and fifths
Both hands now move to a new home: G position. Right thumb on the G above middle C, fingers on G A B C D. Left little finger on the G that sits on the bottom line of the bass staff, fingers on G A B C D. You will also read bigger leaps: fourths and fifths.
What is new
New treble notes
G on the second line (where the clef curls), A in the second space, B on the middle line, C in the third space, D on the fourth line.
New bass notes
G on the bottom line, A in the bottom space, B on the second line, C in the second space, D on the middle line.
Naming intervals
Count the letter names, including both ends: C to D is a 2nd (a step), C to E a 3rd (a skip), C to F a 4th, C to G a 5th.
4ths and 5ths on the staff
A 4th goes from a line to a space (or a space to a line), jumping over two notes. A 5th goes from a line to the line after next, or a space to the space after next.
5ths in the hand
In a five-finger position a 5th is always thumb to little finger, so you can play it without naming the second note.
Part A: Right hand in G ♩ = 60
Right hand in G position, with intervals up to a 5th. Metronome 60.
Part B: Hands together in G ♩ = 60
Hands together in G position: the left hand holds G (finger 5) or D (finger 1).
Part C: Left hand in G ♩ = 72
Left hand in G position, in 3/4.
Pieces
Pieces are for playing more than once. Read each one first without stopping, like an exercise; then practise it until it sounds steady and musical.
Ode to Joy in G ♩ = 76
Ludwig van Beethoven (1824), simplified
The tune you know, starting a new position: right thumb on G, so the melody starts with finger 3 on B.
Fanfare ♩ = 80
Original
A trumpet call built from 5ths and skips. The left hand plays the same call two octaves lower.
Evening Song in G ♩ = 72
Original
A calm tune that starts with the little finger on D. The bass holds G nearly all the time.
Horn Call ♩ = 84
Original
For the left hand alone: a hunting horn echoing in the low register. The first leap is a 5th, from finger 5 to finger 1.