Questions tagged [fingering]
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.
482
questions
1
vote
0answers
45 views
alternative F# clarinet fingering
On my Schreiber clarinet with Oehler key system (or german system) the alternative F# fingering (right side of the image) produces not a F# but a slightly flat G instead while the normal fingering (...
3
votes
1answer
47 views
3 octave A Major violin scale fingerings?
What are some common fingerings for a 3 octave A major scale on violin?
2
votes
3answers
68 views
Bach Invention 2 Bar 13 overlapping keys for both hands while playing mordent
I know there are related previous discussions (I had asked one here, which , interestingly, was also a Bar "13"), but they concerned one individual key overlap. In this case, left hand plays ...
2
votes
1answer
52 views
How to improve my technique while learning Yann Tiersen's "Pern"?
I'm a self learner, unfortunately I did not have any lessons. I try to work on scales, keys, articulation, tempo, etc. myself. And I also try to curve my fingers whenever I can.
I can't read notes ...
1
vote
1answer
68 views
Piano fingering in Un Sospiro
For the tall left-hand arpeggio that descends two and a half octaves in the first bar, my first thought for fingering (for my hands which can only span an octave comfortably) would be starting from ...
3
votes
3answers
157 views
Guitar: finger position question
My professor asked me to practice the following on any string: index finger on fret 1, ring finger on fret 3, little finger on fret 5. I keep practicing but this is pretty painful and hard for me to ...
4
votes
1answer
273 views
Are there different rules for double notes fingering (piano) for legato vs. staccato?
If the double notes are legato, is it a rule not to involve the same finger when playing two double notes in a row? If so, is staccato subject to such rule?
In particular, in the following Bar 45 of ...
1
vote
1answer
130 views
This bar has notes spanning farther than my fingers can reach on piano. How should it be played? [duplicate]
On the following bar of music from "Thank You for Being a Friend", I don't know how to play the specified notes with my limited human hands, particularly the first two beats. I don't see a ...
2
votes
2answers
111 views
Fingering - Chopin Waltz in a minor - measure 21
Need some suggestions with the following.
I am playing the first 3 notes - E, G♯, B with fingers 1,2, and 4, then I am shifting my hand, then playing the next octave up with the same fingering.
The ...
0
votes
1answer
102 views
How am I meant to hold my fingers for this chord?
I am currently learning how to play guitar. I haven't found a proper guitar teacher yet due to the current lockdown situation, so I have to learn from YouTube videos and other online exercises. ...
6
votes
5answers
1k views
Two sets of fingerings printed for one same bar?
2nd movement of Beethoven's sonata Op. 49, No. 2. Bar 7. One edition seems to show two sets of fingering numbers: 4-3-2, and 4-4-2? What does it mean?
6
votes
3answers
606 views
How Do I Know Which Piano Hand Position in the Following Exercise?
In the book "300 Progressive Sight Reading Exercises for Piano", we're taught to put our right thumb on "middle C" and the left pinky finger on "lower C". But exercise #...
4
votes
2answers
101 views
Lilypond: modifying woodwind diagrams
Regarding woodwind diagram in LilyPond as:
\markup {
\center-column {
\override #'(size . 0.7) {
\woodwind-diagram #'flute #'((cc . (oneF two three four five six))
(lh . (...
2
votes
3answers
150 views
Slurs and Finger Substitution
In ABRSM "The AB Guide to Music Theory, Part I, Ch 11.2" on "The Slur": they show the following example (Bartok, For Children, Vol. 1 No. 3)
And they say that the end of a slur ...
8
votes
3answers
803 views
Double thirds, fourths, fifths and sixths piano fingering?
I have absolutely no idea how to finger things like this. I don't really know what sort of guidelines to follow or what books to practice that combine double thirds, fourths and fifths consecutively ...
4
votes
2answers
436 views
Do the music examination bodies like trinity mandate playing the triads with with only (5-3-1) in Left Hand and (1-3-5) in Right Hand?
My music teacher has always told me to use only pinky, middle finger and thumb (5-3-1) while practicing the triad chords. Though I am trying to use it, it becomes difficult on the black keys. ...
9
votes
3answers
3k views
"Impossible" piano fingering in Sondheim
Here is a bit from the standard piano arrangement of Sondheim's "Loving You" (from the Musical "PASSION").
This is near the start of the song (measure 9). The key is D-flat major (...
5
votes
3answers
599 views
Four-note arpeggio on string instrument
Consider following excerpt of the first movement of Mendelssohn's Violin concerto:
It contains a series of arpeggios.
What are the rules to write such arpeggios?
Are the four notes always played on ...
3
votes
1answer
70 views
The use of finger substitution to execute a slurred fifth
Upon performing the theme from the 2nd movement of the Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4 (1st violin) part, I came upon a slur that went from a B flat on the D string with a fourth finger to an F on the A ...
9
votes
1answer
324 views
What's the difference between EWI fingering and saxophone fingering?
I recently purchased an Akai EWI Solo - it's an electronic woodwind instrument that mimics a saxophone. As I watched several videos of experienced EWI players unboxing the EWI Solo, I heard advice ...
5
votes
3answers
729 views
Pachelbel's Canon in D, arpeggio's fingering
In measure 5 to 12 of this R. Schultz arr. of Pachelbel's "Canon in D", the left hand plays the arpeggios.
I have seen various fingering for the left hand:
(a) 5 5 3 1 | 5 5 3 1 | 5 5 3 1 |...
1
vote
1answer
129 views
How to know what string to play on the violin if it does not show it on the sheet? [duplicate]
How to know what string to play on the violin and hand position for a classical piece if it’s not shown on the music sheet especially seen in these old music sheet pieces?
-2
votes
2answers
92 views
Left hand fingering on arpeggio G-E-G-E-B-E on Piano keyboard [closed]
I'm absolutely new to piano and really want to learn piano myself at home without teacher. I've got a new sheet for a song, and I'm trying to figure out left hand fingering for the arpeggio G-E-G-B. ...
1
vote
1answer
66 views
What fingering do you think is better for "bass/chord" left-hand line?
Here is one of million piano arrangements of Ed Sheeran's "Perfect" that I've chosen for learning. And now I'm stuck trying to choose between two fingerings for left-hand line in this part (...
4
votes
3answers
468 views
Use of 3rd or 4th finger for bends
My son has two guitar teachers that disagree on something. I'd like to know your opinion to help my son make a decision which way to go.
On rock songs on the electric guitar, when your hand is in a ...
2
votes
1answer
104 views
Fingering for Bach piano sinfonia n.1 BWV787
Second measure of Bach piano sinfonia N.1 BWV787.
What's the usual piano fingering for the highlighted excerpt? If I'm not wrong you tend to avoid pedal on Bach pieces and C-E' interval is pretty ...
3
votes
4answers
101 views
When to use open note or closed note for solo on acoustic guitar for the same pitch?
Suppose you want to hit E5 (which is 0 fret on 1st string) in a passage of your solo, what are the reasons you'd pick the open note or the closed note on 5th fret 2nd string?
In general for electric ...
4
votes
1answer
102 views
What is the best fingering for this passage of "fluttering intervals"?
What is the best fingering to use for the following passage from "La Plage" by Yann Tiersen (section "B", mm. 7–12)?
It seems to me that the first measure should alternate 14-25, ...
2
votes
2answers
261 views
Why does my clarinet play a "Bb" when the music shows a "C" and I finger for a "C"? [duplicate]
I am trying to learn to play the clarinet and was doing fairly well until I tried to play a tune with my granddaughters on flute and piano. My clarinet was not in tune with their instruments. I have ...
4
votes
1answer
93 views
Is it safe to use thumb position in lower positions on cello?
A piece I've been playing has a notation to use the thumb in 2nd position on cello (with thumb on the D-string F# specifically, where first finger would go in normal 2nd position). I tried it out but ...
14
votes
6answers
3k views
Where should I press white keys - between black keys or below them?
I've been learning to play piano for couple of weeks, and I've faced a question that has some controversial answers on the internet:
What is the correct position of 2-3-4 fingers on white keys (WK) ...
1
vote
1answer
120 views
Piano fingering question
What is the best fingering for the attached sheet music marked in blue (right hand part)?
2
votes
1answer
64 views
Why is my flute squeaking when moving bottom finger
I just bought a Native American flute and it plays beautifully with one problem. When I remove the finger from the bottom hole, sometimes there is a loud squeaking and the flute goes high pitched. I ...
2
votes
1answer
110 views
Piano - Reaching arpeggios in Beethoven's Pathetique 3rd movement measure 107
If I start the piece from a neutral position in relation to my left hand I find that when I get to the arpeggios in measure 107 I can't comfortably reach them with my right hand. If I start the piece ...
7
votes
1answer
208 views
Why finger 4 on G-sharp, finger 5 on Fx=G in Moonlight Sonata mvmt. 3?
This is the Casella edition of Beethoven's "Moonlight" Sonata (Op. 27, No. 2) from IMSLP, and the text recommends fingering 1-4(G#4-G#5) and 1-5(A4-F##5), since G# is farther than F##(G), ...
9
votes
2answers
345 views
Is the fingering the same for Hanon exercises when you play in a different key?
For example, the fingering for Hanon exercise #1 in C is 1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2. Is the same fingering used for the other 11 keys? If so, does the rule hold for all Hanon exercises?
3
votes
1answer
118 views
How is this C chord constructed on guitar?
I am following a tutorial on Black Magic Woman from Justin Guitar and at 6:18 he plays the C Chord in the following way. Since the C Chord consists of notes C, E, and G I notice that his index finger ...
5
votes
4answers
860 views
Fingering for left hand jumps on piano
I'm really just starting out with playing piano and had a look at the recommended fingering for Gymnopedie no. 1 yesterday on https://starryway.org/en/piece/4/basic/ and noticed that for the first ...
2
votes
1answer
83 views
Little finger positioning on fretting hand while playing guitar 3-notes-per-string
I would like some advice on my left (fretting) hand pinkie's (little finger) orientation when I'm playing three-note-per string scales at faster tempos. I find the pinkie flattens, especially the ...
5
votes
2answers
367 views
Roman numerals below the note in violin
I thought the number over the note was the string number for violin. But what are the roman numerals below the score?
How do I finger this score in violin? Could you number on the score please...
1
vote
3answers
289 views
On piano how do I play one note, and the same note an octave higher with one hand?
I have been playing piano for a few months now, and I have come to a roadblock, in this one song I play CDEFG C on octave 4, while I do the same on octave 5. All of this is with one hand, I have been ...
4
votes
2answers
169 views
Correct fingering for The Frail
I'm learning to play E-Piano by myself and right now, I'm trying to play the The Frail. I don't have any problems in the first sixteen bars. But at bars 17 and 18 I'm struggling with the correct ...
1
vote
3answers
170 views
Notes on violin
I am a beginner in violin. I am confused that most of the times in music sheet the notes are normal (neither sharp or flat) but when playing it feels like one is playing the sharp of some notes (like ...
1
vote
2answers
124 views
How to move fingers on violin?
I've read that:
A common violin fingering problem is the result of excessive tension: not lifting your fingers using the base knuckle. When you look at your left hand, each of your fingers (except ...
4
votes
1answer
208 views
Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto 2 - technical question
Quick question about the following section in Rach 2 3rd movement:
Should this be played with the right hand only? I originally assumed so, but it's such a fast section I wondered if others played it ...
5
votes
3answers
286 views
Good way to play rapid consecutive fifths and sixths spanning more than an octave
I can't figure out how to properly finger and play the following section of a piece I'm trying to play.
I've tried multiple things, but the difference in distance between the first notes and the ...
7
votes
4answers
815 views
Voice in bass clef too far apart for one hand
Given the sheet below (4/4 measure signature), how would you play the bass clef?
My understanding is that this is one voice with a large range (not two right?).
I'd hold down G1 & ♭D2 in the ...
4
votes
1answer
143 views
How do I play these widely spaced keys on keyboard?
I am struggling to play these keys, and I am not getting the right phrase to search on Google for this type of question. It's clearly impossible to play this with 2 hands. If this is played with 3 ...
0
votes
1answer
71 views
How to barre this chord without muting adjacent string?
I found this online.
How do you barre with the third(ring) finger without it touching and muting the G string? Anatomically speaking it's really hard for my ring finger to not touch the G string while ...
6
votes
4answers
311 views
How to quickly play octaves with one hand (piano)?
In some songs there are portions where the melody is made of pairs of notes, where the pair spans a whole octave. Sometimes the melody is played pretty quickly. I'm wondering if there's some technique ...
