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The Rocket Piano series was created on behalf of Rock Star Recipes LTD.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
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scanning, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Fingering techniques and warm ups
This book has been designed to develop and increase accuracy and finger speed. One
of the most important aspects of playing the piano is getting the correct fingering. Having
agile and fast fingers for playing the piano is essential for any pianist whether they are a
beginner or a virtuoso. This book is therefore useful for any pianist at any level.
Before practicing it is a good idea to warm your fingers up. When you first sit down at the
piano your fingers might feel a little clumsy or stiff. These exercises are perfect for getting
your fingers limber and ready to play.
These exercises have been developed to gain finger independence. This means that each
finger can work independently of the next so you get more control over each separate
finger. It is also designed to exercise the wrists and help them gain flexibility.
Generally what happens is if you are right handed you will find that your right hand is
naturally faster than your left. It is important to develop equal speed in both hands, to
become a competent pianist. These exercises are designed to be played by both hands
at equal speeds. That way your left hand will get as fast as your right. Many complicated
songs have intricate and difficult parts for the left hand. So agility, speed and strength are
important in both hands.
Like any good exercise the drills in this book are repetitive. This is so that after a few
patterns you should be able to continue the rest of the exercise without having to follow
every note. The same patterns are just repeated on each note of the scale. You should
find the patterns very easy if you follow the system laid out in this book.
Page 3
This book will increase your abilities as a pianist and will have you playing like a professional.
These exercises should be played daily to get the full effect. In next to no time you will
notice the improvements in your playing.
This means that you start playing the exercise at “54” the first time around then gradually
increase the speed up to “110” when you get better at playing it. All of the exercises are
designed so that you start slow and speed up as your fingers become faster and adapt
to the patterns.
I’ve also included the Rocket Piano Progress Tracker so that you have a checklist of all
the techniques you can expect to learn in the course. Once you have mastered a lesson
or skill tick it off on the Progress Tracker, and move on to the next lesson! Commit yourself
to ticking off the skills you learn as you go and see your improvement instantly!
Ruth
Page 4
Table Of Contents
Fingering techniques and warm ups...................3
Rocket Piano Progress Tracker ..........................6
Exercise one .......................................................7
01 01
Every time you see this Every time you see this
button, play the relevant button, play the relevant
track! video!
Page 5
Rocket Piano Progress Tracker
Lesson or Skill Page # Date Signature
Page 6
Exercise one
This exercise stretches the 4th and 5th fingers of the left hand when ascending and the
4th and 5th fingers of the right hand when descending.
01
q = 54 - 110
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 1
6
5 5 5 4
Descending
5 4 5 5 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
16
5 5
21
7
Page
11
1 2 1 1 2 1 5 4 3 2 1
5 4 5 5 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
16
5 5
21
26 5 4 3 2 1 4 1
1 2 3 4 5 2 5
Page 8
Exercise two
02
q = 60
1 3 2 4 3 5 4 3 1 3 2 4 3 5 4 3 1 1
5 3 4 2 3 1 3 4 5 3 4 2 3 1 3 4 5 5
5
1 2 3
5 4 3
descending
Page 9
17
5 5
21
5 3 4 2 3 1 2 3
25 5 5 3
1 3 2 4 3 5 4 3
1 1 3
29
5 3 1
1 3 1
Page 10
Exercise three
This exercise is designed to work the 2nd, 3rd and 4th fingers on the left and right
hands.
03
q = 54 - 110
6
16
21
11
Page
16
21
26
Page 12
Exercise four
This next exercise is quite difficult so take your time and be patient! This exercise is
used to stretch each of the fingers across the octaves.
04
q = 54 - 110
1 2 3 5 4 3 4 2 1 2 3 5 4 3 4 2 1
5 4 2
1 2 3 2
4 5 4 2 1 2 3 2 4 5
1
5
5
9
descending
13 1 1 5 3 2 1 4 3 4 2
17 5 3 2 1 4 3 4 2 5
13
Page
1 2 3 5 2 3 2 4 1
13
17 5 3 2 1 4 3 4 2 5
1 2 3 5 2 3 2
4 1
5
21
1
5
25
1
1
29
5
Page 14
Next exercises
The next exercises are slightly longer and a little more tricky.
These exercises are designed to work each individual finger.
Some of the next exercises are also in otherwise known as common time. This can
also be indicated by a appearing in the place where the time signature usually goes.
This now means that the patterns that are within each exercise now have more notes
within each loop. So the looped pattern is larger. This will become more clear when you
practice the exercises.
Page 15
Exercise five
This next exercise is in . The previous exercises have all been in
05
q = 54 - 110
1 3 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 3 4 3 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 2 5 3 5
5 3 4 3 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 3 4 5 4 1 3 1
3 1 5
5 1
5 1
7 1 3 2 1 2 5
5 3 4 5 4 1
Page 16
5 1
7 1 3 2 1 2 5
Exercise
five continued
5 3 4 5 4 1
11
1
13
15
1 3 2 1 2 5
5 3 4 5 4 1
descending
5 3 4 3 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 3 4 5 4 1
19
Page 17
5 3 4 5 4 1
descending
17 5 3 4 3 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 3 4 5 4 1
Exercise five continued
1 3 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 3 4 3 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 2 5
19
21 5 3 4 5 4 1
1 3 2 1 2 5
23
1 3 2 1 2 5
29
Page 18
1 3 2 1 2 5
27
Exercise
five continued
29
31
5 3 4 5 4 1 1
1 3 2 1 2 5 5
Page 19
Exercise six
This exercise is quite hard so take as long as you need to get comfortable.
06
q = 54 - 110
3 4 5 3 2 3 4 2 1 2 3 1 5 4 5 4 3 4 5 2 3 1 5
3 2 1 3 4 3 2 4 5 4 3 5 1 2 1 2 3 2 1 4 3 5 1
3
5
7 3 4 5 2 3 1 5
3 2 1 4 3 5 1
Page 20
7 3 4 5 2 3 1 5
six continued
Exercise
3 2 1 4 3 5 1
11
1
descending
15 3 4 5 2 3 1 5 5 3 4 5 4 2 3 4 3 1 2 3 2 1 2 1
5 3 4 4 2 3 1
19
5 3 4 4 2 3 1
21
Page
3 2
1 4 3 5 1 1 3 2 1 2 4 3 2 3 5 4 3 4 5 4 5
5 3 4 4 2 3 1
Exercise six continued
1 3 2
2 4
3 5
19
5 3 4 4 2 3 1
1 3 2 2 4 3 5
21
23
25
5 3 4 4 2 3 1
1 3 2 2 4 3 5
27
Page 22
25
5 3 4 4 2 3 1
Exercise six continued 1 3 2 2 4 3 5
27
29
31
5 3 4 4 2 3 1 2 1 2
1 3 2 2 4 3 5 4 5 4
Page 23
Exercise seven
55
07
q = 54 - 110
1 3 2 3 1 3 2 3 1 5 4 5 3 4 2 3 1 3 2 1 3 1 5 3 4
5 3 4 3 5 3 4 3 4 1 2 1 3 2 4 3 5 3 4 5 3 5 1 3 2
3
5
7 1 3 2 1 3 1 5
5 3 4 5 3 5 1
7 1 3 2 1 3 1 5
11
1 3 2 1 3 1 5
5 3 4 5 3 5 1
1
13
1 3 2 1 3 1 5
descending 5 3 4 5 3 5 1
15
5 3 4 3 5 3 4 3 5 1 2 1 3 2 4 3 5 3 4 5 3 5 1
17
5 3 4 5 3 5 1
1 3 2 1 3 1 5
19
5 3 4 5 3 5 1
Page 25
descending 5 3 4 5 3 5 1
15
5 3 4 3 5 3 4 3 5 1 2 1 3 2 4 3 5 3 4 5 3 5 1
Exercise seven continued
1 3 2 3 1
3 2 3 1 5
4 5 3 4 2 3 1 3 2 1 3 1 5
17
5 3 4 5 3 5 1
1 3 2 1 3 1 5
19
5 3 4 5 3 5 1
1 3 2 1 3 1 5
21
23
5 3 4 5 3 5 1
1 3 2 1 3 1 5
Page 26
Exercise seven continued
25
27
29
5 3 4 5 3 5 1 3 2 3 2
1 3 2 1 3 1 5 3 4 3 4
Page 27
Exercise eight
08
This exercise uses time signature. This one is my favourite.
q = 54 - 110
1 5 4 5 3 5 2 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 4 3 5 1 1 5 4 3 5 1
5 1 2 1 3 1 4 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 2 3 1 5 5 1 2 3 1 5
7
10
1 5 4 3 5 1
5 1 2 3 1 5
descending
28
Page
1
5 4 3 5 1 5 1 2 1 3 1 4 1 5 1 5 1
13
10
1 5 4 3 5 1
Exercise eight continued 5 1 2 3 1 5
descending
1 5 4 3 5 1 5 1 2 1 3 1 4 1 5 1 5 1
13
5 1 2 3 1 5 1 5 4 5 3 5 2 5 1 5 1 5
1
5 1 2 3 1 5
16
1 5 4 3 5 1
19
5 1 2 3 1 5
1 5 4 3 5 1
22
25
Page 29
22
continued
Exerciseeight
25
28
5 1 2 3 1 5 1 1 2
1 5 4 3 5 1 5 5 4
Page 30
Exercise nine 56
This exercise is designed to work on the ‘thumb under the 3 finger’ technique. This
technique is very important when playing scales. In some pieces it is important to
reposition the hand so it can reach the extra notes. Remember to keep your hand nice
and loose and high. This will help with getting the thumb under. If you keep your wrist nice
and relaxed this will also help when the 3 finger goes over.
09
q = 54 - 110
1 2 3 1 3 2 1 2 3 1 3 2 1 2 3 1 3 2 1 2 3 1 3 2 1 1 3 2 1 2 1 3
1 3 2
1 2 3
1 3 2 1 2 3 1 3 2 1 2 3 1 3 2 1 2 3 1 1 2 3 1 3 1 2
1 1 3 1 1 3 1 1 3 1 1 3 1 1 3 1 1 3
4
1 3 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 3
7
1 1 3 1 1 3 1 1 3 1 1 3 1 1 3 1 1 3
descending
10 1 1 3 1 1 3 1 1 3 1 1 3 1 3 2 1 2 3 1 3 2 1 2 3
Page
13
31
1 3 3 1 3 1 3 3 1 3 1 3 3 1 3
descending
10 1 1 3 1 1 3 1 1 3 1 1 3 1 3 2 1 2 3 1 3 2 1 2 3
continued
nine
Exercise
1 3 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 2 3 1 3 2 1 2 3 1 3 2
13
1 3 3 1 3 1 3 3 1 3 1 3 3 1 3
1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3
16
1 3 3 1 3 1 3 3 1 3 1 3 3 1 3
1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3
19 1 3 3 1 3 1 3 3 1 3 1 3 1
1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 2 1
Page 32
Eighth note triplets
The next exercise uses eighth note triplets so before you play that exercise we will briefly
look at what eighth note triplets are.
Eighth note triplets occur when there are three eighth notes played in the time of two
eighth notes, or one quarter note. To do this you spread the playing of the three eighth
notes evenly across the time you would normally play a quarter note.
When eighth note triplets are written, a little number 3 appears above or below the group
of notes.
Triplet sign.
3 3
Three eighth note triplets equal
one quarter note,
OR two 8th notes
So when counting eighth note triplets you can count:
one-and-then, two-and-then, three-and-then, four-and-then
57
3 3
=
iiq q
OR3 3
= iq
iiq
Clap the beats and count aloud the rhythm.
one-and-then two-and-then three-and-then four-and-then one two three four one-and-then two three-and-then four
3 33 3
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
4
q q q q iiq q iiq q
4 iiq iiq iiq iiq
Page 33
Exercise ten
This next exercise is designed to get the 1st, 2nd and 3rd fingers working on both hands.
It has the three fingers playing the same note. This kind of close fingering is useful for
when the hand has to shift positions smoothly. It is also good for increasing the speed
and strength of the three fingers.
10
q = 54 - 110
3 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 1 3 3
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
3
3 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 1 3
3 3
4 3
3
3 3
3 3 3 3
3 3
3
3 3
3 3 3
3 3
3 3 3 3
descending
3 3 3 3
3 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 1
3 3 3
3 3 3 3
7 3
3
3
3
3
3
3 3 3
3
3 3 3
3 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 1
3 3 3 3
10
3 3 3
3
3
3 3 3 3
3 3 3
3 3
3 3 3 3
3 3 3
3 Page 34
descending
3 3 3 3 3 3 3
3 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 1
3 3 3
7 3
3
3
Exercise3tencontinued
3
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
3 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 1
10
3 3 3
33 3 3 3 3
3 3 3
3
3 3 3 3
3
3 3 3 3
12
3 3 3
3 3 3 3 3 3 3
Page 35
Exercise eleven
A trill is when two notes next to each other are played in rapid succession. They are
either a tone or a semitone apart. A trill is played very fast so its important to get the
fingers used to this kind of quick playing between one finger and the finger next to it. This
exercise will help your fingers get used to playing the trill.
11
q = 54 - 110
1 2 1 2 3 2 3 2
5 4 5 4 3 4 3 4
3 3 4 5 4
3 2 1 2
2 1 2 1 2 3 2 3
4 5 4 5 4 3 4 3
7 4 3 4 5
2 3 2 1
9 1 2 3 2
36
Page
4 5 4 5 4 3 4 3
7 4 3 4 5
Exercise eleven continued
2 3 2 1
9 1 2 3 2
5 4 3 4
11 3 4 5 4
3 2 1 2
1
13 2 1 2 3
4 5 4 3
15
4 3 4 5
2 3 2 1
descending
17 4 3 2 3
2 3 4 3
19 2 1 5 4
Page 37
descending
17 4 3 2 3
Exercise eleven continued
2 3 4 3
19 2 1 5 4
4 5 1 2
21
3 4 3 2
3 2 3 4
23 1 2 4 5
5 4 2 1
25 4 3 2 3
2 3 4 3
27
2 1 5 4
4 5 Page 381 2
2 3 4 3
27
2 1 5 4
4 5 1 2
29
3 4 3 2
3 2 3 4
31
1 2 2
5 4 4
Page 39
Exercise twelve
This exercise is in common time. That means its in . It’s quite a stretch so take your
time. Also note that the piece goes quite high. Remember that 8va means you play the
notes one octave higher than what is written.
12
1 4 2 5 1 4 2 5
5 2 4 1 5 2 4 1
1 4 2 4 5 4 2 1
3
5 2 4 2 1 2 4 5
5 2 4 1 5 2 4 1
5
1 4 2 5 1 4 2 5
7 5 3 2 3 1
1 3 5 4 5
Page 40
Exercise thirteen
Note the change in the metronome speed. This is because this exercise should be played
slightly slower. Take your time and be patient. This exercise is important because as
you can see it is a study of playing 3rds. Thirds are used commonly throughout all kinds
of music and this exercise is arranged to practice playing them smoothly so that they are
linked.
13
q = 48 - 90
3
3 2 1 2 3 3 2 1 2 3 3 3
5 4 3 4 5 5 4 3 4 5 5 5
3
3 3
1 1
3 3
5 5
5
descending 5 4 3 4 5 5 5
3 2 1 2 3 3 3
7
1 2 3 2 1 1 1
3 4 5 4 3 3 3
9
5
3
Page 41
1
3
descending 5 4 3 4 5 5 5
3 2 1 2 3 3 3
7
Exercise thirteen continued
1 2 3 2 1 1 1
3 4 5 4 3 3 3
9
5
3
1
3
11
5 3
3 1
1 3
3 5
Page 42
Exercise fourteen
This is the last exercise for this book. This exercise works the 2nd and 4th fingers on both
hands. Try and hold the octave down and play the notes using the 2nd and 4th fingers.
14
q = 54 - 110
5 3 5 4 5 4
1 2 1 2 1 2
3 5 4
1 2
descending
5 4 5 4
1 2 1 2
5
7
Page 43
5 4 5 4
1 2 1 2
5
Exercise fourteen continued
7
8
Page 44
Conclusion
You’ve done it! You have completed the Rocket Piano Finger Techniques and Exercises.
Just think how fast your fingers can go now! You’re on your way to becoming a great
musician ... all you need is more practice!
If you haven’t already, go on to the Rocket Introduction to Gospel Piano book or the
Introduction to Jazz Piano book and keep up the learning!
Ruth
Page 45