Arpeggio Fingering

[jam8086]

In my lesson I played the Bach P&F in E flat from WTC Book 2, and after playing, my teacher looked at how I fingered the downward E flat arpeggio in the first measure (and througout the piece), which I played as (going downward, in LH) 1 2 4 5, and he said that I should play all LH arpeggios/chords that begin with a major third (going up) as 5 3 2 1 and a minor third as 5 4 2 1, because sometimes in pieces you have to play a minor chord (5 4 2 1) to a major chord (5 3 2 1), only changing the third from minor to major and holding all the other notes.

Thoughts?

[sharon_f]

I'm studying the same P & F and I use the same fingering as you do simply because it is more comfortable.

[quantum]

Fingering should be used in context.   Whether you use 3 or 4 in the arpeggio should take into account what comes before and after the arpeggio.  Just use what is more comfortable in the piece. 

A totally different piece with the same arpeggio may require different fingering because of the context of where the arpeggio is placed. 

[mad_max2024]

It also depends on your hands
Try different fingerings and use what's more comfortable for you
Another important thing to consider is that you should play with as little movement as possible otherwise you will run into trouble if you ever have to play the arpeggio at great speed
But I dont think there is a fixed way to play, it always depends on the music and the performer

[pianistimo]

in james francis cooke's book (and this isn't a cookbook)  - well it is i guess - it says 'when the two outer notes of the arpeggio is a fourth, use the third finger.

so : Eb G Bb and Eb - the last two notes are Bb and Eb and they are a fourth.

#2 when the distance is a third - use the fourth finger in the middle of the arpeggio.

but...i tend to use the fourth finger a lot on the black notes.  just easier. 

something else i've learned is to not be afraid to pick up as many notes as you can with the right hand - and do a little crossing over whenever possible.  it just lightens the load.