Let's say if you're playing a song in C major and you move to D major: as an example, say the melody is 3 2 1 2 3 3 3 (these are scale numbers). Then you're using the thumb on 1, index on 2, and middle on 3 and so forth. So the same fingers hit the same relative notes throughout the song regardless of key. Therefore, when you learned a piece by heart it doesn't change much between keys because the fingers function the same. Does this sound right?
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5I know some folks with arthritis that may be interested in changing their fingers.– Ian MacDonaldMay 18, 2018 at 13:06
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3Yes my fingers remain the same fingers– theonlygustiMay 18, 2018 at 13:47
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3I tried to change my fingers once -- they wouldn't come off!– TristanMay 18, 2018 at 14:41
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@IanMacDonald - let me know if they need help with their joints.– Don BransonMay 18, 2018 at 15:50
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Your thought process would be correct with a keyboard full of similar keys : no black keys, only a chromatic serie of white keys.– Eric DuminilMay 18, 2018 at 20:54
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3 Answers
Funnily enough, I use the same fingers all the time. Mine! Of course the order in which they're used varies. Mainly because the patterns are all different. Black, white, gaps. An obvious starting point is C major scale. The fingering for that is probably the first most beginners learn.
Moving the thumb to get to the second part (from F) has to happen. Works the same for D, and E. But what about Eb? Bb? Use the same fingering and it's not as smooth. So start with a finger on the black key and it's easier to play smoothly.
Using the same principle, the sequence of notes in a tune in one key may be transferrable with the same fingering, but certainly won't always.
There's a certain naivety about this question that hints that you haven't actually tried out this theory, and if you had, the question wouldn't be here.
Edit: re-reading, for C and D, there's minimum change, in some tunes none, but extrapolating the idea out to other keys, it just doesn't, and can't make sense.
FINGERING can change from key to key. Even though you may use the same standard numbered fingering for keys such as C, D, E, G, A and B, there are hundreds of other adjustments within the arm that are (should) be happening based upon the black keys.
Since the C scale is all white keys, there is a lot of in and out motion you need to do to stay on the edge of the keys. However, when you play in D, for instance, you have more inward motion because the black keys are further in. Also, since they are higher, you need to lift or shape your arm so that you can come straight down onto the key instead of clawing your way up to it. Like walking up stairs, you lift your foot higher than the actual step then come straight down onto it. If you didn't, you'd trip, as most pianists do when trying to play "relaxed."
Also, since you now have to lift the arm higher you will have to adjust your pronator and supinator rotation to facilitate the thumb. Hopefully you were not taught to cross the thumb under the palm. If you were, find a new teacher and learn to play from the arm.
Since there may now be larger gaps between consecutive keys or fingers, and you may be lifting higher, you may need to increase your lateral arm movement to get the fingers where they need to be.
Proper fingering is good to work out grouping and rotations but once you have mastered a good ergonomic technique, you'll find yourself abandoning conventional fingerings at times. There are fingerings for arpeggios, for instance, where I used to use four fingers for but as I increasingly played from the arm, I reduced it to two fingers. Sometimes when I am playing out and feeling bored or frisky, I may introduce a melody using only my arm and pinky, or thumb, or ring. Just to work on forearm alignment or gravity.
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5Would you amplify what you mean by "Hopefully you were not taught to cross the thumb under the palm. If you were, find a new teacher and learn to play from the arm"? I don't see how you can play scales without crossing between thumb and other fingers. May 18, 2018 at 11:57
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1@BrianTHOMAS - there has to be some crossing, but I think Malcolm is advocating lateral arm movement as an alternative. I use a bit of both, but what degree of each is personal.– TimMay 18, 2018 at 15:27
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From a psychological perspective, what Malcom says makes sense. Crossing the thumb puts several hand muscles in a really awkward place. If you think about crossing the thumb, you'll cross it fully first, and then move the arm to complete the movement. If you think about moving the arm, you'll move the arm first, and your thumb crossing will just cover the gaps until the arm is fully in the right place. May 19, 2018 at 0:17
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The thumb and index finger tendons intersect. When you flex the thumb (cross under the palm), then flex the fingers, you grind those two tendons together. Also, crossing the thumb activates the abductors on the top of the hand resulting in you using three muscles at the same time. This is the cause of tension because they are all pulling on one another to control the bones. "Relaxing" doesn't help if you are using the wrong muscles anyway Plus, if you cross under, you have to uncross which robs you of time and velocity. They elbow and arm are very capable of getting the thumb where it . . . May 20, 2018 at 10:19
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. . . needs to be - with speed and accuracy. But your playing must be in the arm for this to work and you must be activating the pronator and supinator muscles. Slanting, rotating, lateral arm and pivoting from the elbow places the thumb without using the thumb. THAT is effortless playing where the fingers truly are relaxed. The arm, not so much but that is what it was designed for. Why ignore it? Consider jumping, you don't just do it from your toes. You use your arms, shoulders, abs, hips, knees, quads, calves, ankle and toes. NOTHING works in isolation. Our pedagogy is a mess. May 20, 2018 at 10:25
They do change. Try the scale of C major with your right hand: C D E F G A B C. Now do the same with F major : F G A Bb C D E F, and with Eb major : Eb F G Ab Bb C D Eb.
You'll see that you'll have a hard time using the same fingering. One rule that you can apply consistantly is to avoid the thumb on black keys. This yields the "standard" fingerings 12312345 for C major, 12341234 for F major, and 31234123 for Eb major.
Actually, I found that practicing scales helps precisely with where to "pass the thumb below" the 3 or 4 depending on the key (for instance, in F major you should arrange for the 4 to be on the Bb to avoid problems, in Eb major targeting the 3 on Eb is also good, etc, this of course depends on context). For improvisation this is a good thing to know...
