| New piano students experience a real problem with | | | | The key of F presents a unique case where trying to |
| trying to quickly learn proper fingering on the piano for | | | | transfer the thumb under would make it end up on a |
| music scales. They can not seem to figure out the | | | | the black key of B flat. It therefore, reverse the |
| right fingers for the notes they have to play. | | | | grouping and uses a pattern of: [1-2-3-4 , 1-2-3 ] The F |
| What is actually a simple concept is not always easy | | | | scale F-G-A-Bb-C-D-E-F The 4 finger plays the Bb in |
| to explain to a student who is so confused by the | | | | the F scale. You have to try it out and work it slowly |
| thumb under or over issues. It gets worst form them | | | | to see this pattern applied. |
| as they then discover rather quickly that the group of | | | | Your Left hand scale fingering |
| three fingers then four is the same for both hands, but | | | | As with right hand the left hand numbering is thumb is |
| just not at the same time. | | | | one, to the pinky at five. All the keys that start on the |
| I'm going to layout a verbal description of the process | | | | white key, except for the key of B, use the 5 finger to |
| here and see if we can paint a picture in your mind as | | | | start. If you continue on to two octaves the fifth |
| to what you need to be doing. Of course you will need | | | | fingers is not used. The pattern is [ 5-4-3-2-1 and 3-2-1] |
| to sit down at your keyboard and follow this idea in | | | | here is a pattern for two octaves. |
| order to get a big picture grasp of the concept. You | | | | For the key B the start is on the four finger and then |
| can use the text provided here to draw out your own | | | | alternates to the one on B. this pattern is [ 4-3-2-1 and |
| keys and write the information out on your prop to | | | | 4-3-2-1]. When you continue on the cross over occurs |
| quickly see the text transformed into pictures. | | | | with thumb on B and the pattern of [3-2-1 and 4-3-2-1] |
| Define the scale | | | | repeats as you do this scale over going up the piano. |
| By using the basic formula W + W + H + W + W + | | | | The bottom line is that you can work the patterns with |
| W + H you can write out any major scale with natural, | | | | two patterns of group your fingers in 3 and four. Or in |
| sharp or flat notes. Where W is a whole step and H is | | | | four and three. Each hand has one exception where |
| a half step on the keys. | | | | the group pattern gets reversed. |
| Your Right Hand | | | | If you will take the time to slowly work out one hand at |
| Start with the thumb as one and number your fingers | | | | a time with each of the white note keys you will |
| two, three, four and working across to your little finger | | | | quickly come up to speed on the patterns. Do it for |
| as five. To play the scale with your right hand the | | | | both hands and realize that you will see they pattern |
| typical finger pattern for any scale staring on a white | | | | as second nature and move on to putting both hands |
| key (except for F) will be grouped as [1-2-3 , 1-2-3-4-5 | | | | together next. This is the nuts and bolts of scale |
| ] You have to use a cross under of the thumb to | | | | fingering for white keys. As presented it is actually |
| make the transaction from one group to the next. | | | | very direct to work out. |