(Third Movement) C major, 3/4 time, Scherzo

Similar to the preceding work, Op. 2-2, a Scherzo is used instead of a Minuet. A motif with a 1.5-beat anacrusis dominates the main section, creating rhythmic contrast when combined with a motif that marks three beats per measure. This rhythmic mechanism might foreshadow the following 6/8 time finale.

In the Trio, a pattern emphasizing the third beat is incorporated within an arpeggiated figuration. In the Coda after the Da Capo, passages emphasizing semitones are repeated. Such musical construction could not be achieved in an elegant Minuet, and Beethoven's introduction of the Scherzo instead of the Minuet might have been a necessity stemming from his musical demands.