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I am having real trouble working out the optimal fingering for an arpeggio in this piano piece:

Arpeggio

(Note that lower G should be on the right hand stave. The piece is 104 bpm)

I have tried a few fingering combinations:

  • 5 4 3 2 1 123 - I struggle with this due to the span of my hand
  • 4 3 2 1 2 123 - Possibly the best I've come up with so far but it's hard to reach 2 over 1
  • 3 2 3 2 1 123 - Sounds too staccato

Does anyone have any recommendations for better fingering choice? If I can nail this I've pretty much got the piece in the bag!

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For my hand the fingering 5 4 2 1 2 feels most comfortable. For me it's better than 4 3 2 1 2 because it requires less stretching and I can keep the hand a bit more rotated to the left which makes the 2 1 not so bad. If the 5 4 is difficult, 4 1 3 2 1 may be a better option.

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  • The problem with 5 4 2 1 2 is you can't then legato to the triad - you have to take your finger off to move your hand whereas on 5 4 2 1 4 you can at least pivot around to get the triad straight after letting off G...
    – deed02392
    Dec 28, 2012 at 14:22
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    If you need legato there, my first suggestion is to use the pedal, either for the whole arpeggio (changing when you hit the chord) or just for the 1/8th note. You can also do a quick finger change on the 1/8th note: press the key with 2, then with both 2 and 4, and finally only 4, then play the chord. The finger change is actually easier with 4 1 3 2 1, because the thumb lies comfortably on the same key with any other finger.
    – nonpop
    Dec 28, 2012 at 14:29
  • Note that this phrase is not marked legato in the music. I like this fingering the best too, having tried them out.
    – Owen S.
    Jan 12, 2013 at 17:12
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I think I would play 5 4 2 1 5 124.
There will be a quick arm move, or jump, over the thumb (1), from the first four notes to hitting G with 5. You only need to internalize this arm move and practice hitting the G with 5. The rest is right at your fingers (with a slight twist of the wrist to hit the 124 chord, but there should be time for that).

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Remember you don't have to connect everything. Where you lift and breathe (which should make sense with the music) can simplify fingering. Fingering can help articulate.

I would play 5-4-3-2-1 and then jump to get the chord with (124). You said that doesn't work with the span of your hand, but I bet it would if you move your wrist properly (to put the hand on front of the notes... more of a roll).

You can also try working out the fingering backwards. Let's say you know you want to be on the thumb on the g to make the reach to the chord easier... so then work the arpeggio UP and you'll see the best fingering might be (backwards) 1-2-4-1-2... so then try it backwards and see if it works... 2-1-4-2-1. To me, it's a little too "cute" and I'd probably just go with the 54321.

There are clearer ways to notate the rhythm of this example too but that's another topic. :)

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I can't play it fluently myself, but I think with practice I could get 5 4 2 1 4 123 to work.

Practice making the 5 4 2 1 4 run sound fluid, with the 4 coming over the 1, then the triad at the end should be quite easy.

(I've assumed the piece is in C major)

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  • The piece is C minor, not sure how that affects things. I have just come up with 4 1 3 2 1 after what JackL suggested. I'm really struggling to get 4 over 1 but it does seem that is better for getting the triad.
    – deed02392
    Dec 28, 2012 at 14:09
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    Well, the difference is the position of the hand. Actually being in Cm helps here because playing the Eb with your second finger leaves your hand slightly more tilted towards bringing the fourth over, than it would have if it were a E natural.
    – slim
    Dec 28, 2012 at 14:55
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If you wanted the section to be legato, I would go with 4-3-2-1-4-123, because it seems to flow nicely. However if you can break the chord off, then I'd go 5-4-3-2-1-123 with a little jump.

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Jump method: 5 4 2 1 3 jump 124

Legato method: 5 4 2 1 4 123

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