BASIC HAND POSITIONS AND FINGERING

In piano music,
numerals.

fingering

is written

Each hand is numbered

(=2), middle
symmetrical

just above or below the notes,

outwards

(=3) and ring (=4) fingers,

from rhe thumb

the index

co the lirrle finger (=5). So fingering

Correct fingering

is

Whenever you're learning to playa piece, always

between the hands.

The basic hand position

make sure you practise it with rhe correct

on the piano lets you play five notes side by side, one

finger on each. For example, placing

your right hand with the thumb

enables you co cover all the white notes from C

thumb

using small

(= 1), through

CO

fingering. When fingering isn't given, it's up to

on Middle C

you to work it our and wrice it in. Always have a

G. Placing your left hand with the

pencil to hand. Using the same fingering every

on Middle C means you cover all the white notes from C down co F. Try tbis

one band at a time, keeping

can also position

in mind what was said earlier about hand

the left hand exactly

one octave

below the right

shape.
hand,

time you playa passage speeds up learning.

You
so the

bottom (5th) finger sits on the C below middle C, as in the next exercise.

Exercise 1.3
Wben your band is in position, play the notes under your fingers, one at a time, up
and then down. Now shift the hand to a similar position on G (ie, u/itb G at the
bottom and D at the top), and do the same thing. Then move down a step to F, and
then back to C. Then try the other hand.

Right hand

~-e-

Left hand

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