Chopin Etude Op. 25 No. 6 -- Help!

[yellowcat12345]

I'm currently working on Chopin Etude Op. 25 No. 6 (Thirds). I can play the thirds fine, but I get REALLY tired after I finish. Is there some sort of way to play the thirds scales in the right hand without getting so tired?

Thanks 

[mjames]

Mentally or physically?

Mentally, is quite normal.

If it's physical then there's something wrong with your technique. Not advanced enough to give you any tips ;P

[chopinlover01]

If it's physical, you've got strain somewhere in the piece.
I haven't played this etude, nor am I close to it in terms of technique, but my guess would be that you're putting too much effort in the thirds, or you have tension with them.
Either way, a useful exercise (stolen from a Josh Wright video) is to play one voice of a third passage in eight note (quaver) triplets, and the other in quarter notes (crotchets).

[yellowcat12345]

I get mentally tired of course, but I'm used to it...so it's being physically tired that I'm complaining about. I did realize that I put too much effort into the thirds
I practiced just the top notes of the third scales with only the 3rd, 4th, and 5th fingers, and as soon as I was able to do that with ease, adding in the bottom voice (thus making it a thirds scale again) became so much easier. BTW thanks a lot for your tip -- I will definitely that exercise!

[le_poete_mourant]

I'm currently working on Chopin Etude Op. 25 No. 6 (Thirds). I can play the thirds fine, but I get REALLY tired after I finish. Is there some sort of way to play the thirds scales in the right hand without getting so tired?

Thanks 

Yes. Find a great teacher who can help you with your technique. It's virtually impossible to diagnose or fix something like this over the internet, particularly if  you're unable to pinpoint what it is exactly that is causing your fatigue or discomfort. This does, however, suggest that you are experiencing a significant amount of tension that is due to problems with your physical alignment or other technical issues. Something like playing this etude with a slightly distended wrist could cause this. Or perhaps your fingers are working too much and causing your arm to lock. There are many things that could be minor and barely noticeable but then add up to pain and tension.

[pencilart3]

I played it but I never got past 3/4 speed of 69 to the half note consistently. But my hands never got tired. I started by just playing really long double trills (like in chopin's barcarolle). Then I played chromatic double scales all the way up and down the piano. You can start by just practicing 3-4-5 scales and just 1-2 scales. Good luck! 

[wage]

What helped me a ton with it were 2 exercises: chromatic scales with 345 and chromatic scales with  12. Especially the 2nd one is great, it's kind of awkward, since you end up with the thumb on black keys, but if you want to play it fast you have to play with a really light touch, which is exactly what is needed for 25/6.

[chopinlover01]

Wasn't that on a Paul Barton or Josh Wright video, as well? I know the 1-2 was, and that one helps a lot.

[pencilart3]

Wasn't that on a Paul Barton or Josh Wright video, as well? I know the 1-2 was, and that one helps a lot.

Paul Barton. It was great.

[wage]

Paul Barton. It was great.

Josh made a video about it as well lately, if i remember correctly. I got both from my teacher ~2 years ago when i was working on it. They seem to be the standard exercises for 25/6, guess it's because they really produce great results. And 10/2 is a breeze after that.

[pencilart3]

Josh made a video about it as well lately, if i remember correctly. I got both from my teacher ~2 years ago when i was working on it. They seem to be the standard exercises for 25/6, guess it's because they really produce great results. And 10/2 is a breeze after that.

Yeah, I was sick of chromatic scales so I took an etude break after 25/6. I still need to do 10/2 someday....