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Piano Board => Student's Corner => Topic started by: shoshin on September 15, 2005, 05:56:34 PM

Title: octave playing technique
Post by: shoshin on September 15, 2005, 05:56:34 PM: Hi. I have a question about playing a series of octaves and fingerings.

Lets say I have to play the following octaves one after another:

A4--A5
C4--C5
B4--B5

Do i use the fingering 1,4 then 1,5 then 1,4? I can reach a octave with 1,4 fingering no problem. What is the general rule for this? Note: i saw this kindof fingering in a piece and now with a new piece that didn't have any fingering I was wondering if this was the way to go.

Thanks in advance.
Title: Re: octave playing technique
Post by: steve jones on September 15, 2005, 06:06:18 PM: I tend to use the same fingering for all octaves. Iv experimented, but come to the conclusion that the ole 1-5 is the more comfortable.
Title: Re: octave playing technique
Post by: nicolaievich on September 15, 2005, 07:59:03 PM: Same with me... using 1-4 usually produces more tension in the arm than the 1-5 does, at least in my case. I only use 1-4 if it is really necessary.
Title: Re: octave playing technique
Post by: Floristan on September 15, 2005, 08:14:57 PM: I usually use 1-4 for black-key octaves and 1-5 for white-key octaves.
Title: Re: octave playing technique
Post by: steve jones on September 15, 2005, 09:26:23 PM: OMG! How have I got 132 posts?

I only set up camp here a couple of weeks ago. Time for me to go out I think... ::) ;D
Title: Re: octave playing technique
Post by: bearzinthehood on September 15, 2005, 09:36:48 PM: The fingering you choose depends on the piece in question. Is it supposed to be fast or slow, detached or legato?
Title: Re: octave playing technique
Post by: shoshin on September 15, 2005, 10:37:08 PM: Quote from: bearzinthehood on September 15, 2005, 09:36:48 PM
The fingering you choose depends on the piece in question. Is it supposed to be fast or slow, detached or legato?

slow Legato
Title: Re: octave playing technique
Post by: bearzinthehood on September 16, 2005, 12:14:53 AM: Then if you're comfortable with it, do the 1-4, 1-5, 1-4 I think. 1-3, 1-5, 1-4 might be possible too depending on your hand size, then you could do it in counter clockwise circles.
Title: Re: octave playing technique
Post by: thierry13 on September 17, 2005, 04:35:45 AM: I allways play 1-4 on black keys and 1-5 on white keys. Honestly, playing with 1-5 all the way doesn't affect my ability at all. It's a question of habit, i guess. Still I would get habituated to play 1-4 on black and 1-5 on white. I'm a key-racist, and the black keys doesnt owe my 5th finger 8) ;D (kidding)
Title: Re: octave playing technique
Post by: bernhard on September 18, 2005, 10:55:58 AM: Quote from: steve jones on September 15, 2005, 09:26:23 PM
OMG! How have I got 132 posts?

I only set up camp here a couple of weeks ago. Time for me to go out I think... ::) ;D

Tell me about it. ;)

1-5 - 99.9% of the time (and do not be afraid to use the pedal)
Title: Re: octave playing technique
Post by: thalbergmad on September 18, 2005, 08:35:26 PM: I generally stick to 1-5 apart from Legato.

The Chopin Nocturne Op9 No1 is a good example where i would use 1-3 and 1-4.
Title: Re: octave playing technique
Post by: chopiabin on September 19, 2005, 06:52:23 AM: I recently have been using 1-4, 1-5 on chromatic octaves (ie. first page of third ballade) with some success - it seems to be faster much of the time.