Piano Forum

Piano Board => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: swagmaster420x on July 11, 2014, 03:29:13 PM

Title: unusual technique, but sounds really good
Post by: swagmaster420x on July 11, 2014, 03:29:13 PM

I think he's actually physically inhibited from using his thumb? If so that's damn impressive

Title: Re: unusual technique, but sounds really good
Post by: stevensk on July 11, 2014, 04:21:24 PM

Yes its nice!
I think he is a member of the group "never use a thumb on a black key"

(there are those who think so)

Title: Re: unusual technique, but sounds really good
Post by: quantum on July 11, 2014, 04:25:15 PM

Keyboard players from the time before Bach typically did not use thumbs.  Just four fingers with the thumbs hanging over the keys.  One of the reasons keyboard music from that period can feel odd at times when using modern fingering techniques.  In a nutshell, when you ran out of fingers you pick up your hand and move it to the next position.  No crossing under/over to make legato scales as is the norm today.  

Title: Re: unusual technique, but sounds really good
Post by: pianoguy711 on July 11, 2014, 04:33:07 PM

I know him! haha. When I first saw the video, I knew he looked familiar. Then I remembered I met him one time in MA and we improvised over some jazz standards together, fun time.  He has a really great sense of harmony.

Title: Re: unusual technique, but sounds really good
Post by: awesom_o on July 12, 2014, 02:10:20 PM

He uses both thumbs! It's just hard to see the right hand thumb in most of his videos.

He certainly is a master!