Questions tagged [fingering]
For questions about choosing which finger(s) to use when playing an instrument. This tag can apply to pressing a key (of a keyboard), to stop a string, or the set of fingers to use to produce a particular note or chord.
573
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How common is the little finger to fret strings in (blues) electric guitar? Why does SRV never use his little finger?
I was watching this (mindblowingly awesome) SRV video and I noticed that the guy never uses his little finger:
I wonder if it's his habit or it is a legit technique ...
2
votes
2
answers
944
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Fingering for piano run
I'm looking for some help with a run I'm trying in C. The chord progression is d7, ddim, Cmaj7, and the run is:
(G,G#,A,C,E,G),(E,F,A,C,E,G) then it goes down.
The run is based of the run from this ...
15
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4
answers
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How deep should the fingers sit when pressing piano keys?
When pressing piano keys, how deep should the fingertips sit? Well between the black keys (if I'm playing the white ones), or closer to edge of the key?
I have seen both practices on videos, ...
7
votes
2
answers
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What fingerings are used for the minor and major blues scales?
It's my understanding that for the diatonic scales, there's a consensus of which fingerings are optimal for most people. They are not a hard rule, some pianists use other fingerings, but they are ...
11
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2
answers
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Software to analyse music for playability
Is there any software that can analyse instrumental parts for playability?
I want to compose orchestral music, I know the ranges of the individual instruments, but do not know if what I compose is ...
3
votes
1
answer
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Is there a more precise way to play F natural on a D pennywhistle?
I am using a pennywhistle in the key of D major. I was wondering if there is an easy way to make the F# (the third hole from the end) an F natural (between the third and second holes from the end). I ...
7
votes
3
answers
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Pedaling in Satie's Gymnopedie #1
I'm an adult piano novice learning Satie's Gymnopedie No. 1. The edition I'm working with has no pedal markings. You can see the score here:
http://javanese.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/3/38/...
3
votes
3
answers
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Piano: Finger substitution vs spreading hand for different intervals
For the measures shown in the picture, I am able to reach the notes if I spread my hand but I'm not sure if this is good practice. I tried also to use finger substitution but I can make it work only ...
1
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1
answer
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How would you finger this Cmaj9 chord?
In this video, I'm having trouble with a particular chord.
The first chord is here:
e|-3-| 3
B|-3-| 3
G|-4-| 4 Fingers
D|-2-| 1
A|-3-| 2
E|---|
The G on top is giving me particular trouble. ...
1
vote
1
answer
108
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How are fingerings on ornamented notes to be interpreted?
Do fingerings refer to the "main" note or the first note of the ornament realization?
Suppose I have a trilled B over which the editor has put a 3.
Does it mean that I play it 3-2, the C with the 3 ...
2
votes
1
answer
316
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Figuring the Classical Fingering from Sheet Music
Given a sheet of music, how does one determine the correct fingering (p i m a) for Guitar? that is, when the fingering is not explicitly mentioned?
I know that strings (E a d) are typically plucked ...
2
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3
answers
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Mozart K545, what is the correct fingering for the left-hand runs starting measure 50?
Or maybe even broader, how do you choose fingerings for any given passage, especially with extended runs? I taught myself piano, so I don't know if there are any hard-and-fast techniques.
If I try to ...
2
votes
5
answers
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Will learning guitar tabs help me improve at learning other tabs/playing melodies?
I want to know if by learning a song from a tab I'll somehow get better at learning a different song.
I have this feeling that by learning a song from a tab I'll only succeed at learning that one ...
2
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2
answers
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6th string root dominant 7th barre chord voicing
When I first started playing guitar quite a while back, I bought the Chords and Voicings Guitar Grimoire, and promptly put it on a shelf when I realized I had a lot more to learn then just chord ...
7
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6
answers
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How can the ukulele D7 chord have different fingerings with different sounds?
Just learning the ukulele, and trying the D7 chord. I'm confused because there seems to be two accepted fingerings for the D7: a barre on the second fret and a single finger on the first string of the ...
11
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3
answers
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What does the arc under fingerings mean?
What does the arc under fingerings mean as seen in these two pictures?
It seems like first image, the arc means to transition fingerings from thumb (left hand) to second finger, but on the second ...
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3
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Why should I alternate fingers in this piece?
I very recently started learning classical guitar and I have some questions.
I am trying to play following piece:
In the second-to-last measure of the second row, my fingers on the strings alternate ...
6
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4
answers
5k
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How to convert notes to finger position on a guitar?
I am playing guitar for around one and a half year now, and am already able to play the most chords (except some extremely strange chords).
Now I wanted to practice a bit of classical guitar on my ...
3
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2
answers
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Is there a standard notation for piano fingering?
Ofcourse there is the notation 1 2 3 4 5 for each finger. But are there other (quasi-)standard symbols for indicating, for example, hand movements, stretching the hand, putting the thumb under, etc.?
...
2
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2
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Where should my thumb be gripping when playing A shape barre-chords?
I've been reading about thumb aches while playing barre-chords, and apparently my thumb applies too much pressure, which is bad. Anyway, I kind of figured out how to relax my thumb and my hand.
But I'...
3
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1
answer
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Bartok - Mikrokosmos - Book 1 - 10 "With alternate hands": Thumb on a black key?
I have a question about the 10th exercise in Bartok's Mikrokosmos book 1 ("With alternate hands"):
In the key signature the A's are indicated to be played flat.
The left hand starts with it's fifth ...
8
votes
4
answers
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Left hand Finger Technique
Say, I want to play note G on 1st string 3rd Fret ,i would play as below ( With my Index,Middle and Pinky close to the Fret and not as far away as shown in the pic)
But, while tuning my Guitar i ...
9
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3
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What are the limitations for a guitarist with arthritis in his hands?
I have found that arthritis (or general hand problems/pains) is very common and a big problem among guitar players. I am currently suffering from osteoarthritis, more seriously in my left hand and I ...
2
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2
answers
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Alternative treatment for Intention tremors in my left pinky and ring finger
I'm a guitarist, and have been playing well over 40 years. I'm going on 61 FYI. Over the course of the last 15 years or so, I've begun to have what are apparently called "intention tremors", just in ...
3
votes
2
answers
6k
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Μy little finger is too weak to play guitar
I am learning guitar, but my little finger is too weak to play. For example, if I play a chromatic scale in first position and my first three fingers are in the right place, it feels extremely hard to ...
3
votes
1
answer
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Fingering Advice for Bach Invention 13
I was hoping to get some feedback about my choice of fingering shown in the picture below.
4
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0
answers
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Essential strumming patterns/techniques? and the theory behind it? [duplicate]
I used to play silly led zeppelin and velvet underground covers. i knew all the vu strumming just because i knew the records by heart. i've started to get more into classic folk and country and nick ...
15
votes
4
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Playing guitar with webbed fingers
I've just got myself an acoustic guitar and I'm struggling with holding down chord shapes. I have webbed 2nd and 3rd fingers on my fretting (left) hand. This causes those fingers to follow each ...
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votes
5
answers
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Playing the Ukulele besides singing
I love the ukulele, and I just bought one. The problem is I cannot sing, and I don't really want to.
It seems as though there are not a lot fingerpicking songs and most songs just have the chords.
...
8
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6
answers
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Finger hitting multiple keys
I have been playing piano for 5 months now and I have a problem where my fingers seem to land on multiple keys at once. This is really annoying and causes the music the sound as if I'm playing with my ...
11
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3
answers
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Violin Sheet music - Finger 0 on non-open string note
I'm battling to understand the indicated fingering on one of the pieces of music I have for my Violin Grade 6 exam. As indicated below, the finger notation suggests that I need to play an open string ...
4
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5
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Beginner finger lessons for virtual piano [closed]
I found the site VIRTUALPIANO NET and would like to learn how to play the virtual piano(VP) using it since I cant afford an actual piano. I decided to start with finger training in the C major scale ...
3
votes
2
answers
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Fingering for a pentatonic piano riff
I can't find suitable fingering for the below minor-pentatonic riff,
1 3 4 | 3 4 5 | 4 5 7 | 5 7 1 | 7 1 3 | 1 3 4 | ...
I know that it matters which key, so let's say A minor.
4
votes
4
answers
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Guitar arpeggios and finger practice
I've been playing my acoustic guitar for three years now and I have been told that I play good. I composed a few instrumentals and they have been quite appreciated. But its not good enough. I can play ...
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3
answers
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Piano scale and arpeggio fingering technique: Thumb Under vs Thumb Over methods
Let's first define the methods:
Thumb Under (TU): the thumb is brought under the hand in order to pass the 3rd or 4th finger for playing the scale. The thumb has movement up and down (to play the key)...
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3
answers
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Keeping fingers close to frets when playing barre chords
The problem I am faced with while playing a barre chord is that the finger i use to make the chord behind the finger that's barring has to be place very far from the fret so the sound it makes is ...
12
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4
answers
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Right-hand fingering for D7/F♯
I’m learning piano (for now) via self-study with Alfred’s Basic Adult Piano Course. The lesson on right-hand fingering for D7/F♯ recommends using 1–4–5 to play F♯–C–D. As I mention in another question,...
2
votes
1
answer
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Piano Fingering 3 octaves
I'm learning a new song and in one part the left hand has to span and I am not sure how to finger them. Can anyone help?
Ascending:
C G C D Eb G C D Eb G C D Eb
Descending:Same ...
2
votes
2
answers
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What is the correct fingering for this sequence of notes?
Please forgive the fact that I have no software with which to produce musical notation. Fortunately the sequence of notes I need the fingering for is quite simple.
The sequence is:
G3 A B D E G4 A B ...
3
votes
1
answer
350
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Problem with fingering
I have no idea why I am like the only one having such problems. My fingers always unwantedly muted the adjacent string to the strings I was playing. Even if it wasn't completely muted, the sound it ...
4
votes
1
answer
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Bass guitar shifting vs pinky emphasis
I'm learning to play the bass guitar and I've come across a lot of phrases that span 4 frets (call them 1,2,3,4) where notes on 2 and 4 are emphasized.
I've played these using two methods and have ...
4
votes
3
answers
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Easy fingering for C6-D6-E6 on tenor saxophone
I am looking for an easy fingering for C6-D6-E6 on the tenor saxophone.
I know there are different fingerings for each not possible on the sax and I did study the ultimate fingering chart, which is ...
2
votes
2
answers
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Finger Issues Learning Guitar
I am currently trying to learn the guitar been doing it for a week now , finger tips finally start getting those callouses but , when I ma holding chords such as c and I try to stretch my fingers to A ...
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3
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Piano fingering recommendation for an f# minor arpeggio in the left hand?
I can't seem to find a comfortable fingering for the bass part of this. Everything I try feels weird.
How can I transfer from the F# on the fourth line to the rest?
I'm trying this:
F# C# F# A C# ...
4
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3
answers
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Piano fingering: B flat dominant 7th arpeggio
I am having trouble playing this arpeggio:
B♭ - D - F - A♭ - B♭ - D...
For the right hand I have tried this fingering:
B♭ - D - F - A♭ - B♭ - D
2 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 1
But on the way down, I am ...
6
votes
2
answers
1k
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the fingering intended by the composer
I'm trying to understand why Erik Satie put chords impossible to play with the right hand up in the treble clef. Why not put these chords in the bass clef so that it is obvious that they are played ...
29
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7
answers
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Which fingering to use when playing the same piano key twice in a row?
I just started to learn piano, and I notice that practice sheet music for beginners sometimes specifies for all or some keys which fingers should hit them. It seems that some authors consistently ...
3
votes
1
answer
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How do I fret this "pattern"?
I'm going through the beginning of a guitar arrangement of the first movement of Moonlight Sonata, and I'm not sure how to fret the bass notes in some cases.
For instance, there's a part where I fret ...
5
votes
3
answers
614
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Fingerstyle guitar - how to play this arpeggio?
Too many notes, not enough fingers! How can I keep bass note while playing this arpeggio? ? shows the fret I cannot reach because I use index finger to play bass note. I have tried to barre index ...
3
votes
3
answers
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Advice on piano finger positions
Say, when one's practicing the first four keys in the C-major scale, how useful is to practice it with fingers 1-2-3-1 as opposed to 1-2-3-4? I could say to myself 'what ever you feel easy', but is ...