Contrary Motion Basics

Welcome to the Elementary Level

Congratulations on graduating from the Beginner level. You can play melodies with both hands, read notation, and understand basic rhythm and chords. Now it is time to develop true hand independence — the ability for each hand to do something completely different, at the same time, with control and confidence.

We start with the easiest form of two-hand coordination: contrary motion.

Why Contrary Motion First?

In contrary motion, both hands mirror each other — when the right hand goes up, the left hand goes down, and vice versa. This is easier than parallel motion because both hands use the same finger numbers at the same time. Your brain only needs to send one set of instructions (the fingers), even though the hands move in opposite directions.

Full Octave Contrary Motion Scale

Place both thumbs on Middle C. Play the C major scale outward for one full octave:

• Right hand: C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C (ascending, fingers 1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5)
• Left hand: C-B-A-G-F-E-D-C (descending, fingers 1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5)

Notice the magic: both hands use the exact same finger numbers. The thumb-under passage happens at the same moment in both hands. This is why contrary motion is an ideal starting point.

Exercise 1: Slow Contrary Scales

Play the full octave contrary motion C scale at 50 BPM (metronome on quarter notes). Focus on perfectly synchronized thumb crossings. Repeat 5 times ascending and descending.

Exercise 2: Contrary Motion in G

Both thumbs on G (above Middle C for RH, below for LH). Play the G major pentascale in contrary motion (G-A-B-C-D outward, then return). Remember F-sharp in the G scale: the right hand plays F# going up, the left hand plays F# going down.