Re: Adult beginner's fingering question!
Posted: 02 Nov 2010, 15:39
It isn't really 'set in stone' what fingering you choose - it depends on how comfortable it is for you.
Yes, for the chord of C major (left hand), notes C E G usually use 5 3 1, (rule is miss a note = miss a finger) but sometimes 4 2 1 is used instead & more comfortable. Trouble is with some adult beginners, your hands have developed differently throughout your age, where a young kid can easily have their hands & fingers 'moulded' - as they know no different.
If you are having difficulty in moving from one chord to the other - which is usually the case when you have to keep a melody going, perhaps try a different chord position (called an inversion) for the chord of F. The notes do not have to be in 'root position' (FAC), but can be C F A, so in moving from the chord of C - C E G, to the chord of F - C F A, keep your little finger in C, and use fingers 5 2 1 for C F A. The chord of F will sound slightly different, but its still the chord of F.
This can also be done for the chord of G - B D G - using fingers 5 3 1. It means also that you have less distance to travel to each chord, instead of your left hand flying around!! Best to allow your fingers to move the "nearest available note" - for simple left hand harmony chords.
The general rule for 'ad lib' left hand chords is that if 2 chords share the same letter name, then try to keep that note in the same part for both chords.
C E G = Chord of C. F A C = Chord of F. Note in common = C
So turn around the chord of F to keep the C in the same part
C E G then to C F A is much smoother than C E G to F A C
Hope that helps as a start (but your piano teacher can help you further with this).....
Yes, for the chord of C major (left hand), notes C E G usually use 5 3 1, (rule is miss a note = miss a finger) but sometimes 4 2 1 is used instead & more comfortable. Trouble is with some adult beginners, your hands have developed differently throughout your age, where a young kid can easily have their hands & fingers 'moulded' - as they know no different.
If you are having difficulty in moving from one chord to the other - which is usually the case when you have to keep a melody going, perhaps try a different chord position (called an inversion) for the chord of F. The notes do not have to be in 'root position' (FAC), but can be C F A, so in moving from the chord of C - C E G, to the chord of F - C F A, keep your little finger in C, and use fingers 5 2 1 for C F A. The chord of F will sound slightly different, but its still the chord of F.
This can also be done for the chord of G - B D G - using fingers 5 3 1. It means also that you have less distance to travel to each chord, instead of your left hand flying around!! Best to allow your fingers to move the "nearest available note" - for simple left hand harmony chords.
The general rule for 'ad lib' left hand chords is that if 2 chords share the same letter name, then try to keep that note in the same part for both chords.
C E G = Chord of C. F A C = Chord of F. Note in common = C
So turn around the chord of F to keep the C in the same part
C E G then to C F A is much smoother than C E G to F A C
Hope that helps as a start (but your piano teacher can help you further with this).....