Glissandos

[donjuan]

How would one play a glissando up and down the keyboard? In the right hand ascending,  I use the back of my middle finger.  In coming down, I use the fleshy part of my 2,3,4 fingers (Ouch!!).

My question is:
(1) At the top of the glissando, how do I put an accent on the final note?
(2)Is there a better way of doing glissandos with the right hand DOWN the keyboard without using the fleshy part of my hand?  It affects my fingers after doing so, and I cant play properly following the glissando.

thank you,
donjuan

[liszmaninopin]

1.  Do you have the availability of the left hand at the top of your glissando?  If so, you can hit the top note with your left hand.  Actually, if I go up and down, I go up with the pads (it's interesting that you use the backs of your fingers) on my second and third fingers of the right hand, then I hit the top note with the second finger of my left hand, and drag it down for a glissando down.

2.  Do you really need to use the right hand to go down?  I would suggest using the left hand if at all possible.  If it's not, however; you might try using your fifth finger.  I know it's a weak finger, but it involves less turning of the hand than the second, third, and fourth.

In reality, I don't do many glissandos, but the above ways are how I would do it.

[faulty_damper]

Glissandos are really difficult to do on my heavy-touch piano.  It hurts no matter how I play it!  I sure someone can help with this problem, too.

[willcowskitz]

Try to pull the glissando with the 3rd finger, except for the last note, which you punctuate with 2nd. I draw my hand with the line between elbow and wrist aligning with the keyboard, and when the 3rd finger reaches the second last note I follow it with the 2nd to create the accent on it, its a natural move once you get it to "flow". You could also try thumb for the last note.  This works for me ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY if you break your hands due to misguided technique.  

[donjuan]

Thanks everyone for your help.  Unfortunatly, in the piece, there are many glissandos and the left hand is busy with chords and such at the tijme of glissandos in the right hand.  Maybe i will try Willcowskitz's interesting idea.  I have a question- are you using the pads of your fingers or the fingernails?
thankyou,
donjuan

[willcowskitz]

The touch-side of my fingers, if I use fingernails it hurrrrts.

[liszmaninopin]

What piece are you playing?

[donjuan]

What piece are you playing?

Im working on Liszt's Totentanz.  I actually started another thread- Trill and Melody in same hand- in the students corner section to help me with another part of the Totentanz.

Totentanz is a great piece because it contains many little technical tricks we dont normally see.

donjuan

[ayahav]

i had similar problems in a Villa-Lobos piece I played, though my glissando there was only going down.... Glissandi are best played with the thumbnail side of the hand, using swift motion from the elbow... going down you should play with the back of the thumb, and up with the back of 2,3,4,5... that's what I find easiest, and if you play lightly it doesn't hurt too much.... Toughen up....! be a man....

[donjuan]

i had similar problems in a Villa-Lobos piece I played, though my glissando there was only going down.... Glissandi are best played with the thumbnail side of the hand, using swift motion from the elbow... going down you should play with the back of the thumb, and up with the back of 2,3,4,5... that's what I find easiest, and if you play lightly it doesn't hurt too much.... Toughen up....! be a man....

That sounds logical, but how can I make accents on the end of the glissandi? (Keep in mind my other hand is busy..)
donjuan