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Topic: What fingers would you use to play this phrase?  (Read 2203 times)

Offline Petter

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What fingers would you use to play this phrase?
on: June 18, 2008, 09:32:22 PM
What is it? An airplane? a banana? No it´s sheet music made in paint! What fingering would you apply to play this phrase?

"A gentleman is someone who knows how to play an accordion, but doesn't." - Al Cohn

Offline pelajarpiano

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Re: What fingers would you use to play this phrase?
Reply #1 on: June 19, 2008, 03:03:06 PM
What is it? An airplane? a banana? No it´s sheet music made in paint! What fingering would you apply to play this phrase?



I think that it's a child's drawing with a crayon. Hahaha...
Good picture.
No one is perfect and have no fault, but I will do the best

Offline Petter

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Re: What fingers would you use to play this phrase?
Reply #2 on: June 19, 2008, 03:33:18 PM
Thanks, I´m still wondering though. It was a serious question. I´m playing 

 2      1      2     4       1      2     6(no just kidding)  3        4           5   

Ab     B     Eb    G       F     Ab                                  B       Eb          F   

It feels ankward but I´m asssuming it would be "correct". Sorry I´m obsessed with fingerings.
"A gentleman is someone who knows how to play an accordion, but doesn't." - Al Cohn

Offline ramseytheii

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Re: What fingers would you use to play this phrase?
Reply #3 on: June 19, 2008, 03:54:36 PM
1235 12345

Walter Ramsey


Offline Petter

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Re: What fingers would you use to play this phrase?
Reply #4 on: June 19, 2008, 04:14:22 PM
Thanks, that made alot more sense. I´m altering my technique from 20 years of mostly self studying jazz piano up until now. "Avoid black note on thumb, but there are exceptions" note made.  :D
"A gentleman is someone who knows how to play an accordion, but doesn't." - Al Cohn

Offline faulty_damper

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Re: What fingers would you use to play this phrase?
Reply #5 on: June 19, 2008, 06:12:44 PM
It feels ankward but I´m asssuming it would be "correct". Sorry I´m obsessed with fingerings.

Here's a really important thought: don't be obsessed with fingerings.  It leads you to think you walk in your socks, not your shoes.

The way I figure out which finger touches each key depends largely on the comfort of the shape of my hand to the keyboard pattern.  I would probably also use Walter Ramsey's fingering.

Offline faulty_damper

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Re: What fingers would you use to play this phrase?
Reply #6 on: June 19, 2008, 06:13:48 PM
"Avoid black note on thumb, but there are exceptions" note made.  :D

It's a wonder how wrong this idea is and yet teachers still teach it. :P

Offline thalberg

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Re: What fingers would you use to play this phrase?
Reply #7 on: June 19, 2008, 06:55:25 PM
It's a wonder how wrong this idea is and yet teachers still teach it. :P

Well it's one of those rules that's not really a rule, because it means avoid thumb on black keys unless it's easier and more convenient.  So in other words, don't really avoid it.

Offline Petter

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Re: What fingers would you use to play this phrase?
Reply #8 on: June 19, 2008, 07:34:49 PM
Thanks. I´ll focus on being obsessed with comfort instead.
"A gentleman is someone who knows how to play an accordion, but doesn't." - Al Cohn

Offline slobone

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Re: What fingers would you use to play this phrase?
Reply #9 on: June 20, 2008, 05:26:52 PM
I have big hands, so I would just do 1235 12345 in the right hand.

Offline syncope

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Re: What fingers would you use to play this phrase?
Reply #10 on: June 20, 2008, 06:18:32 PM
1235 12134

Offline scarletpianist

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Re: What fingers would you use to play this phrase?
Reply #11 on: July 10, 2008, 11:31:11 AM
I don't know if it works, for me, probably 2123 12345. Just a suggestion. X(

Offline Etude

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Re: What fingers would you use to play this phrase?
Reply #12 on: July 10, 2008, 11:36:39 AM
Everyone's said the most sensible options so...

2 1    2 4 3 5    1  2 4


I thought thumbs on black keys was a no no.
Well, I've been avoiding it at every opportunity so far...

Offline dana_minmin

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Re: What fingers would you use to play this phrase?
Reply #13 on: July 10, 2008, 01:36:15 PM
1235 12345

Walter Ramsey


same from me  ;D

Offline ramseytheii

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Re: What fingers would you use to play this phrase?
Reply #14 on: July 10, 2008, 02:41:34 PM
Everyone's said the most sensible options so...

2 1    2 4 3 5    1  2 4


I thought thumbs on black keys was a no no.
Well, I've been avoiding it at every opportunity so far...

Wait, do you mean that because everyone said the most sensible options you wanted to throw in the most bizarre fingering?  Or would you really use that one?  I'm confused!

In any case Artur Schnabel taught us, in his edition of Beethoven's sonatas, that as often as possible the fingering should match the shape of the music.  In many cases in his interpretation, that meant using very difficult and awkward fingerings to match the extreme figurations in Beethoven's score.  In this case, the shape is simple and obvious, and the fingering should also be simple and obvious!

Walter Ramsey


Offline general disarray

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Re: What fingers would you use to play this phrase?
Reply #15 on: July 10, 2008, 06:41:57 PM

In any case Artur Schnabel taught us, in his edition of Beethoven's sonatas, that as often as possible the fingering should match the shape of the music.  In many cases in his interpretation, that meant using very difficult and awkward fingerings to match the extreme figurations in Beethoven's score.  In this case, the shape is simple and obvious, and the fingering should also be simple and obvious!

Walter Ramsey



Siuch as: LH2, RH2, LH 2, RH 2, LH2. RH 2, etc.
" . . . cross the ocean in a silver plane . . . see the jungle when it's wet with rain . . . "

Offline horizontal

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Re: What fingers would you use to play this phrase?
Reply #16 on: July 10, 2008, 07:54:03 PM
1235 12345

Walter Ramsey



I shudder to think how large your hands must be that this fingering is comfortable for you.

Offline Petter

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Re: What fingers would you use to play this phrase?
Reply #17 on: July 10, 2008, 09:33:50 PM
Seems there´s some interest  :D

How would you play this phrase?



"A gentleman is someone who knows how to play an accordion, but doesn't." - Al Cohn

Offline ramseytheii

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Re: What fingers would you use to play this phrase?
Reply #18 on: July 10, 2008, 11:43:32 PM
I shudder to think how large your hands must be that this fingering is comfortable for you.

It's not about large hands but rather stretch between the fingers!

Walter Ramsey


Offline faulty_damper

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Re: What fingers would you use to play this phrase?
Reply #19 on: July 11, 2008, 01:14:23 AM
Seems there´s some interest  :D

How would you play this phrase?

Deciding which finger(s) touch which keys also depends on other factors such a musical quality, speed, etc.  But since there is no musical context given...

Here's my sugestion.  The ones in parentheses are either or.

|: 1 2 (3)(4) 5 :|

Offline Petter

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Re: What fingers would you use to play this phrase?
Reply #20 on: July 11, 2008, 01:56:22 AM
Good point  :D, I would probably displace the phrase to start on the second 8th in the first bar, anyway... As legato as possible with small accentuation on the 2th and 4th beat. I´d like to play it fast and small crescendo from p to mp. Would it make any difference?

"A gentleman is someone who knows how to play an accordion, but doesn't." - Al Cohn

Offline general disarray

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Re: What fingers would you use to play this phrase?
Reply #21 on: July 11, 2008, 02:12:48 AM
It's not about large hands but rather stretch between the fingers!

Walter Ramsey




Stretch has NOTHING to do with it.  It's rotational technique.  I offer as evidence -- supporting the expediency of rotational technique -- the example of Chopin's Etude Opus 10, No. 1.  Even a small hand can (and does) manage these large reaches, precisely because it avoids the tension-inducing (negative) effort of "stretching" and relies on a fully developed rotational technique. 
" . . . cross the ocean in a silver plane . . . see the jungle when it's wet with rain . . . "

Offline faulty_damper

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Re: What fingers would you use to play this phrase?
Reply #22 on: July 11, 2008, 07:13:02 AM
Good point  :D, I would probably displace the phrase to start on the second 8th in the first bar, anyway... As legato as possible with small accentuation on the 2th and 4th beat. I´d like to play it fast and small crescendo from p to mp. Would it make any difference?



From the tempo and expressive markings, pp - mp, I would not interpret it to be legato.  It would be interpreted as leggiero.  And from the accent on the off beat, I would interpret that as agitato.  So the musical quality is leggiero e agitato.  But this is only what I interpret from the lack of context.

Fingering would not change.
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