Choosing which finger(s) to use to press a key (of a keyboard) or to stop a string, or the set of fingers to use to produce a particular note or chord.
12
votes
3answers
2k views
What is the importance of practicing scales on piano, and the proper fingering of them?
First of all I want to point out that I practice scales a lot and even enjoy it.
I just don't know why they are so important, as this site says for example:
"Proper fingering of the scales on the ...
9
votes
1answer
196 views
Why does closing a recorder bell raise the pitch sometimes and lower the pitch other times?
I have been playing recorder for two years now and have recently been using this chart, http://www.dolmetsch.com/efingeringchart.pdf for third octave soprano fingerings.
Playing the D or the F# ...
8
votes
2answers
136 views
Is it acceptable to play the same note sumultaneously on different strings on Cello?
For a piece I am performing with a local school orchestra, a final open A is to undergo an "insane" crescendo to a Fortissississimo, which our conductor interprets as "as loud as possible."
A fellow ...
7
votes
5answers
860 views
Fingering for octaves on the piano
Another question about playing octaves (as in Schubert's Erlkonig, Chopin's A-flat Polonaise, etc.):
I practice Hanon exercises, and Hanon recommends using the first and fifth finger on white keys ...
7
votes
5answers
519 views
What is the proper way to play A-Flat scales on piano?
Consider four cases:
A-flat major
A-flat (natural) minor
A-flat melodic minor
A-flat harmonic minor
I start them with the third finger on the A-flat key (both hands), but I have no idea how a ...
6
votes
7answers
479 views
The “right” way to use my pinky.
Ever since I've been playing, I've always fretted a B chord like this:
Using my pinky to cover the D, G, & B string. However, while it works, it's never felt quite right. I've tried to use three ...
6
votes
3answers
230 views
What is the best way to work on my fret hand finger independence?
As a beginner, I find my fingers going everywhere but the places I want them! This is especially true when I'm attempting scales/licks that use my 4th finger a lot or requires quick interchanging ...
6
votes
3answers
145 views
Is playing with two hand really necessary in this passage?
This is an except from Hungarian Rhapsody No.2 by Liszt from John Thompson's Grade 3
(The key signature of this section is F Major):
Is playing this passage with two hand really necessary? or is ...
6
votes
5answers
1k views
Logical way to learn movable scales on guitar?
After learning the CAGED 'open string' scales, what scales to do next? In what order or what way? When I learn a new scale, it seems to have the effect of displacing my ability to play other scales ...
6
votes
1answer
99 views
How is this piano chord fingered in “Graceful Ghost”?
From the first page of the sheet music for "Graceful Ghost" (preview available from Sheet Music Plus), you can see that in the third measure (the first chord the right hand plays after the repeat ...
5
votes
4answers
2k views
Are short fingers detrimental to becoming a pianist?
In this question, the OP asks about the problem of his wife's fingers being too short to cover the guitar's fretboard entirely. Similarly, my wife wants to start learning piano and her fingers are ...
5
votes
3answers
768 views
What are alternative “voicings” for Major/Minor/Dominant Chords if I can't play “Barre Chords”?
I would like some alternative Chord Voicings if I don't want to play the standard barre chords for major/minor/dominant voicings: Thanks!!
5
votes
2answers
97 views
strange fingering in moonlight sonata
This is an except of bars 47-50 moonlight sonata from Henle
In bar 49 in the middle of the second triplet there is a fingering of 21 (pressing with the 2 finger and switching to 1 while pressing), ...
5
votes
1answer
887 views
F on soprano recorder doesn't sound right
I taught myself to play the recorder (soprano) - just the basics - but I have trouble with the F. It just doesn't sound right. Sometimes it sounds too close to the E, sometimes it even sounds like ...
5
votes
1answer
308 views
On a saxophone, what is the difference between an overtone and an altissimo ?
I know about true or false harmonics tones on various instruments but I do not understand what an altissimo is. Just very high notes? Can you produce them on every kind of saxophone? Can you play a ...
5
votes
2answers
119 views
Goldberg Variation 28, right hand 4/5 trills [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Learning 4/5 trills on the piano?
At a fast tempo, the 32-notes in the right hand (all marked as 4/5 in my Henle edition), are the first time in the Variations where my ...
5
votes
2answers
288 views
How would you train for Chopin's Étude no. 2 op. 10?
This Étude is really painful for the right hand. Difficulty comes from medius, ring and little playing chromatic scales while thumb and index punctuating.
The thumb cannot be used as a pivot while ...
4
votes
6answers
2k views
Tips playing F barre chord
Any tips for a newbie in playing the F barre chord.
I find it very hard to put my fingers in place. I've got a strat.
I hear you can move it up and down the neck for other barre chords.
4
votes
1answer
139 views
Strange fingering in Hungarian Rhapsody No.2
This is an except from Hungarian Rhapsody No.2 by Liszt from John Thompson's Grade 3
(The key signature of this section is F Major):
I don't understand why it recommends playing the E and B♭ ...
4
votes
2answers
43 views
how I must put my fingers for this tablature?
How should I play this bar? I'm having trouble figuring out the fingering so that I can play it easily (or as easily as possible, anyways).
4
votes
2answers
184 views
Play high C-D trill on flute
I have a C flute, which I recently dug out and am relearning.
I've noticed that the first trill key for C-D doesn't work as well for high C-D. There is a change in pitch and quality, much more ...
4
votes
1answer
482 views
Fingering indication for double glissando (Ravel, Alborada del Gracioso)
In this piece, from the five Images by Maurice Ravel, there are three “double glissandi”, ascending then descending, over white keys of the piano. One of them uses a fourth interval, the next one uses ...
3
votes
2answers
272 views
How do you determine the best fingering for arpeggios on the piano?
I'm learning Reverie by Debussy. I always hesitate when fingering arpeggios. I can figure it out, but I always feel like there's a better way which I'm not thinking of. Does anyone have any tips for ...
3
votes
2answers
392 views
Riders on the storm fingering for piano
I'm talking about this little run:
I can't think of a proper fingering of this, so it sounds very smooth.
Its basically in the Dmajor scale starting on b.
Can anyone help me getting the ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
Violin fingering schemes for different scales
I had a 10 year gap in my violin play and I'm still having trouble remembering the correct fingering (specifically for 4 and more sharps/flats).
Where can I find some fingering charts/schemes ...
3
votes
2answers
528 views
Guitar Fingerings for susb9 chords?
This chord goes well with Phrygian Mode and second mode of Melodic Minor.
From Mark Levin's Jazz Theory Book: "The Notes most often played on a susb9 chord, .. , are root, b9, 4th, 5th, and 7th. This ...
3
votes
1answer
235 views
How can I improve my fingering on the saxophone in the high notes and overtones?
I have a couple of months working on my improvisation and I'm having some issues with fast passages on the saxophone's higher notes and overtones (starting from D with the left hand palm).
I'm ...
3
votes
1answer
135 views
How do I finger these descending treble fifths?
From BWV 914, Toccata in E minor, Fuga:
My Henle edition marks 5-1 for the first four pairs of fifths starting from F#, E, D, C#, but doesn't give fingerings for the next 6 pairs of fifths.
What ...
3
votes
1answer
60 views
Oboe Fingerings in the Upper Register
Does anyone have a trick for playing notes like high E (three ledger lines above the staff) with all of those lovely pinky keys? My current technique is button mashing and hoping for the best, but ...
3
votes
1answer
89 views
How do I finger the interleaved 3rds in Goldberg 23?
The bottom line is what I'm talking about. They're interleaved and I'm playing it on one piano (though it's written for two). I've been doing 2/3 in each hand, with the left hand over the right, ...
3
votes
1answer
58 views
How to layout left hand fingers correctly?
I practice Flamenco guitar. Basically all music sheets that I read indicates the left hand fingers (1, 2, 3 and 4).
This is amazingly helpful because you can complicate a lot of things if you are ...
3
votes
2answers
111 views
How to play Rumba-Flamenco (Spanish rumba) style of music on guitar?
I want to play the rumba style of flamenco music on my guitar.
What are some defining characteristics of this style of music? Are there particular strumming patterns that define this music?
Which ...
2
votes
3answers
284 views
Penciling in piano fingering
This question is related to a previously asked question of mine about adding accidentals.
I often pencil in fingering in difficult places, but sometimes I even mark fingering on an entire piece (in ...
2
votes
2answers
92 views
Do I have a problem in my ring finger?
I play piano, guitar violin and other instruments.
I have a little weakness in my ring finger, especially the left one.
Instrumently-agnostic speaking, to reproduce what I'm talking, place your left ...
2
votes
2answers
2k views
Short fat fingers
Any tips for someone with short fat fingers.
I find trying to get my chords, I accidentally cover over other strings.
Any tips?
2
votes
1answer
163 views
Is it normal, when playing scales on the piano, to occasionally rub neighboring fingers against each other?
When I play the F sharp harmonic minor scale, my right index finger on E sharp (F) rubs on my third finger on F sharp, since this scale is rather awkward. Is this to be avoided, or is it ...
2
votes
3answers
95 views
Zedd - Spectrum arpeggio fingering help?
I am having real trouble working out the optimal fingering for an arpeggio in this piano piece:
(Note that lower G should be on the right hand stave. The piece is 104 bpm)
I have tried a few ...
2
votes
3answers
200 views
What is the most classically correct way to play this fast run?
I am trying to figure out the best way to play the first run in Francesco Tarrega's Caprice Arabe. This run is meant to be played really really really fast.
First way:
p i p i ...
2
votes
1answer
460 views
Fingering for black keys scale
I have noticed that everything I play on the black keys only sounds oriental.
I wanted to know what is the standard fingering to go through this pentatonic scale?
2
votes
3answers
189 views
Flute fingering for slurred 3rd octave: E to B flat?
This is in the Flute 1 part for Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite "Danse des Mirlitons".
(We are in D major, this excerpt cuts of the key signature!)
2
votes
1answer
132 views
Choosing the appropriate flute for my preschooler
My preschooler has pretty good embouchure on a six hole plastic flute in the key of D; unfortunately, the distance from the mouth hole to the sixth finger hole is about 17.5 inches so the finger holes ...
1
vote
1answer
86 views
Finger landing order for D#m chord (and similar)
Which one is a faster finger landing order for this and similars chords:
4-3-2-1 or 3-4-2-1 (4 is a pinky finger).
I play 3-4-2-1(somehow faster for me)
1
vote
6answers
781 views
Should I lift my finger before I hit a key when playing a piano?
I've noticed, that many people are hitting keys, instead of just pressing them. It kinda looks like that before they press the note, they lift the finger a little bit, same as if you tried to hit a ...
1
vote
1answer
150 views
How should I finger A# and F# Major on piano?
How should I finger A# and F# Major with the left hand, 5-2-1 or 5-3-1?
1
vote
1answer
63 views
piano finger spread
I'm a self-taught piano novice, can play easier two handed pieces (e.g. Minuet in G maj), struggling with chords. My favourite piano listening piece is BWV582, Bach's Passacaglia/Fuga from an Angela ...
0
votes
1answer
58 views
What resource teaches me finger placement for violin sheet music?
New to the violin!
... So, I'm really confused now.
You see, as a hobby, this whole time I have been learning songs by memorizing the finger placement some violinists use for their pieces.
Buuut, ...
0
votes
1answer
85 views
Complete fingering-technique reference book for keyboard player for chords and scales?
I'm now studying harmony and since my instrument is not keyboard, I don't know how to execute complex chords such as 13 or other chords that involve more than 5 notes.
Do you play them with just one ...
0
votes
2answers
112 views
Recommended fingering for a bar from “The Typewriter” by Leroy Anderson
This is an excerpt from "The Typewriter" by Leroy Anderson:
I can't find a comfortable fingering for the middle bar.
Since the final note in the previous bar is a C, fingered with a 4, I find ...
-1
votes
3answers
114 views
Which F to use on a bass?
What F is sounds best for a bass guitar/electric bass. First fret on E string (sounds too dark) or third on D string (sounds too bright). The tune is in F minor and the next chord is Eb.
Some choices ...
