Also known as: "Black Key"

This Etude features entirely pentatonic right hand triplets (on the black keys only) with ingratiating effect. The melodic and thematic material is entrusted to the left hand, while the right carries on the given Etude- figure. It is said that this etude resembles the etude Opus 125 no. 19, composed by Hummel.

Kullak says: "the piece is full of Polish elegance."

When Chopin learned that Clara Shumann performed this etude in Paris on April 16 1839 he wrote: "Did Miss Wieck play my Etude well? Could she not select something better than just this etude, the least interesting for those who do not know that it is written for the black keys? It would have been far better to do nothing at all. "