Fingering Questions

Hello, All:

Happy New Year!

The pieces I am practicing now contain some left-hand wide-span arpeggios. For instance

G2 D1 B1 D1 B1 D1 B2 D1 B1 D1 A1 C (String 1)

and

D2 A2 F#1 A2 F#1 A2 F#2 D1 A1 G2 D1 B1 (String 2)

(The convention of notation: C is middle C, C1 is an octave lower than C, C2 is an octave lower than C1; c is an octave higher than C, c1 is an octave higher than c, c2 is an octave higher than c1; etc. Hence in order of increasing pitch: C3, C2, C1, C, c, c1, c2, c3).

These arpeggios are clustered in three's, but they go relatively fast and smoothly.

For string 1, I am using 531 313 531 521 with a bit of feeling of OVER-STRETCH; and for string 2, I am using 531 515 521 531 with the same feeling.

What fingering would you use for the above two strings for natural and smooth results?

Thank you for your reading and input!

Still waiting for your ideas.

I'm having trouble figuring out your method of numbering the octaves. I've always heard of the piano keyboard being numbered in this way:

The three lowest keys on 88 note piano keyboards are:

a-natural 0 a-sharp 0 b-natural 0

Then, each octave is numbered in order; C1 through C8.

Even so, it looks like your fingering is suitable. I'd take it careful and slow, let your hands stretch out, I assume that is part of the goal. Also, when you are doing other things such as watching tv, riding the subway, or whatever, stretch your hands carefully. Extend the 5th finger and thumb out gently as if playing a 10th until there is some pain. Both hands. Release. Then stretch again, gently, don't force it too much. Release. Then again. Release. Do that over and over again throughout the day but don't injure your hands. I've been doing that since I was a teenager and now I can stretch further because of it.

Now, bend each finger back as far as you can without breaking them. Gently, carefully. You only want a little pain. Stretch each one, all ten. Then go back through both hands again from the other direction. Crack your joints too. Do this a few times a day.

Now you can do high finger exercises using your knee as a target. Lift each finger, one at a time as high it will go and throw it into your knee. Sharp, fast, accurate! Then retract it. Now lift it, high up, high up...stretch it high up, then throw it, hit! Let it spring back up high immediately after you hit your knee. You can do this on your desktop too if you want to make pounding noises. Although it hurts a little on hard surfaces.

Next, angle your hands up at the wrist with fingertips pointing straight up. Your hands should be at a 90 degree angle with your arm, or as close to 90 degress as you can get them. Stretch. Relax. Do that a few times. Now, make fists and curl them up towards your forearem to stretch your forearm muscles. Stretch. Relax. Again. Relax. Take your time, let those muscles fully stretch out. Breathe. You can use weights to work the forearms too. Also, shoulder and arm muscles respond well to lifting weights. If you don't have weights or a gym membership, just stretch your arms, roll your neck around, and breathe.

We don't have to wait until we are at the keyboard to get our fingers, hands, and muscles stretched out and strong.

Thank you very much, Johann, for your refreshing ideas and interesting methods. I consider my hands reasonably large and flexible, but this is the first time for me to read about methods like these. Thank you again!

In the first sequence, I'd use 521 on the first group instead of 531. The rest looks fine (starting at 313).

I'd probably finger the second sequence 521 414 521 521. The hand forms a relaxed Y with the forearm. Be careful not to deviate the axis of the hand too far towards the pinky side.

Important idea: Don't keep your hand extended during during the whole passage. Let it contract naturally as you play. In particular, there's no reason to keep your pinky over the lowest note of each group after you've released it.

- Carl Tait