27
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How do you know which finger/key to press for the next note on Piano when thumb is not on C?
That is like asking a tennis player how they calculate the angles of their elbow, shoulder and wrist to hit the ball without looking at their racket.
Maybe a somewhat unorthodox answer, but at this ...
- 1,445
27
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How am I supposed to play this chord?
It's probably a copy-paste mistake, someone used a notation program's automatic features to create the tab and didn't check if it can actually be played.
Try playing it as: 10 x 11 11 10 x
It's a ...
- 28.5k
25
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Violin - Can double stops be played when the strings are not next to each other?
As Jomiddnz points out, there's pizzicato. You could also bow one string and pluck another at the same time.
But if you want both notes played with the bow, and don't want the bow to catch the ...
- 5,200
25
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Chopin: marche funèbre bar 15 impossible place
This does not seem to be a typo, as evidenced by a clear D♭ in the bass on page 14 of the autograph manuscript:
On page 14 of Kullak's "instructive edition" found here, the editor suggests ...
- 84.9k
21
votes
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Why are there fingerings in Liszt's Beethoven's 9th transcription, a piece for a very skilled player who presumably doesn't need the finger markings?
In the interest of keeping this post focused, I'll just address the specific question of...
Why did Liszt put fingerings in his transcription of Beethoven's Ninth?
First, it's important to establish ...
- 92.4k
20
votes
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Is there a reason not to play A/C# as x42225?
Yeesh, x42220 is indeed terrible. Don't feel bad about struggling with that.
But the downside to x42225 in this context is that it's completely parallel to the previous chord, and that can sound ...
- 22.5k
19
votes
Is it common to use pinky (little finger) on black keys?
As a piano player of over 30 years, I can assure you that the pinky finger plays plenty of black keys. Either hand.
Is it common ...?
I want to say yes, but let's have some specific examples.
it'...
- 1,657
18
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What does this notation mean? It is two numbers in brackets
In piano this parenthesis with 2 fingering means that you should change finger while keeping the note played.
For example at the second bar you show, you should first use your 5th finger to attack ...
- 181
18
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Piano: Left handed Gmaj7 chord
Try shifting your hand toward the fall board (i.e., away from your body). That will bring your thumb closer to the F#, allowing additional relaxation in the rest of your hand.
So this:
Rather than ...
- 92.4k
17
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How is this piano finger stretch remotely possible for anyone?
Since the semibreves are from the harmony in that bar - as are most of the notes in the whole bar - it's feasible to hold them on using the sustain pedal. The same could be for the l.h., as that's a ...
- 196k
17
votes
Where should I press white keys - between black keys or below them?
When it comes to fingering questions, the broader the question the more the answer will be: "it depends." That is probably why you find conflicting information online, too many answers that ...
- 58.7k
15
votes
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"Impossible" piano fingering in Sondheim
A published version of a musical theatre song is usually a reduction from an orchestrated version, so there's a desire to include the main lines of the various instruments even if the reduction can't ...
- 57.7k
14
votes
Is it okay to use different fingers every time while playing a song on a keyboard? Is it considered a bad practice?
You are overthinking this.
You are free to use whichever fingers you like when playing a piece but obviously some fingerings will work better than others.
What you need to do is to find a fingering ...
- 5,081
13
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Should I always use scale fingering when sight reading?
When sight-reading, your long-term goal should be learning to read and play entire phrases of music, not individual notes. What fingering choice is practical for a specific note might be completely ...
- 28.5k
13
votes
Are 4 part chorales supposed to be played on piano using 2 voices for each hand?
Abstract:
Your fingers are not people.
Explanation:
You do what you need to do for what works best on the instrument you’re using and how you’re playing. The two notes on the top staff and two on the ...
- 3,462
12
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Accepted
Open string call out does not match requested music note
Note that the music shows a C and also a B.
The first finger (1) of the left hand frets the second fret of the fourth string on the second eighth note of the first beat to make the E. Then the fourth ...
- 57.7k
11
votes
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How to play two voices with a large range in the same hand?
This is a case where use of the pedal is needed. You use the pedal to hold the bass note and you change it when the bass is changing. In this excerpt at the beginning of every measure.
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11
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Violin - Can double stops be played when the strings are not next to each other?
Just to be pedantic, you could pretty easily bow the open G and A strings together by holding the D string depressed just above the bridge.
- 6,532
11
votes
Is there such a thing as F♯ position on the piano?
Given that 1-2-3-4-5 isn't working for you because of the awkward A, then yes, your next best option is 2-3-1-2-3.
The idea of fixed hand positions is generally a learning tool for beginners, and ...
- 92.4k
11
votes
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What's the difference between EWI fingering and saxophone fingering?
There are different EWI fingerings but the general idea is that standard saxophone fingerings will work, and some other that are not working on a real sax will also work. In my experience, palm keys ...
- 5,167
11
votes
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Is it Bad Technique to Use One Finger for Two Keys in Sequence?
Although a strictly traditional piano teacher might balk at it, in jazz this is very common and perfectly acceptable, especially when playing a fast legato line, as happens frequently in bebop. You'll ...
- 92.4k
10
votes
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Is there any recorder with same fingering as tin whistle/six hole bamboo flute?
The short answer: no, there isn't.
The long answer:
The six-hole chart you give for your tin whistle is for a tin whistle in D. A soprano recorder is in C. No, you are not going to find a D wind ...
- 4,037
10
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Fingering C major arpeggio - Is fingering crucial when learning piano basics?
Fingering is entirely crucial, yes, and the benefits flower over a long period of time. It is often difficult for a beginner piano player to understand why on an intuitive level, but here are a few ...
- 1,596
10
votes
How can I learn about reasons for choosing different ways to play a chord?
Reasons for choosing a particular inversion and/or voicing, particularly on guitar, are rather personal than anything else.
Any resource will have been written with that in mind. So it won't help ...
- 196k
10
votes
Accepted
D7 piano left hand fingering
The main issue here is not really whether 4 or 5 takes the lower note. It's making up your mind that you're going to let go of the bass note and MOVE your hand up the keyboard, a definite arm ...
- 94.7k
10
votes
Is the fingering of thirds flexible or do I have to follow the rules?
All fingering is flexible!
BUT, in a passage of 3rds, confined to the '5-finger position' you need a pretty good reason NOT to use 1-3, 2-4, 3-5. And 'I'm a beginner, and I find it hard to lift my ...
- 94.7k
10
votes
Is the fingering of thirds flexible or do I have to follow the rules?
Fingerings are suggestions, but in exercises they might be the whole point
When you learn a piece and you can do better with another fingering than the one on the piece, feel free to change it. Those ...
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