Chopin Prelude No.3

[frank_48]

can anyone provide me with some smooth fingering for measure 24? the fingering provided is very awkward.

any general tips for this piece would also be nice


thanks.

[birba]

There IS NO smooth fingering for that prelude...

[perfect_pitch]

Oh yeah - let me try then...

5 2 1 4 3 4 5 1 2 3 1 2 3 2 1 2



Give it a go and tell me if it works... I only suggest because I haven't played this prelude before (and I'm assuming this prelude is in G Major since it is his No. 3)

[frank_48]

Oh yeah - let me try then...

5 2 1 4 3 4 5 1 2 3 1 2 3 2 1 2



Give it a go and tell me if it works... I only suggest because I haven't played this prelude before (and I'm assuming this prelude is in G Major since it is his No. 3)

thats perfect thankyou!

[perfect_pitch]

Glad I could help...

BTW - Love your signature... Always makes me laugh.

[birba]

...14345...?! You've probably got the greatest set of  independent 345 since Horowitz.   I use ...13234...  The thing with this prelude is that your left forearm has to levitate while the fingers dance in the air...

[perfect_pitch]

...14345...?! You've probably got the greatest set of  independent 345 since Horowitz.   I use ...13234...  The thing with this prelude is that your left forearm has to levitate while the fingers dance in the air...

Well it's not exactly that much of a stretch. And if you think it's hard to play, then you need to loosen up when you practice. Seriously... I would have thought the same a few years back, but considering that if Horowitz could do it... it is physically possible, and not that advanced if you think about it...

And then again - Horowitz wasn't that loose at the keyboard either... Now, Olga Kern or Valentina Lisitsa - they have a very loose, flexible style of playing.

[frank_48]

...14345...?! You've probably got the greatest set of  independent 345 since Horowitz.   I use ...13234...  The thing with this prelude is that your left forearm has to levitate while the fingers dance in the air...

took me ages to get the 45 very flexible like fingers 2 and 3 but it flows much more nicley when its all legato.

[myriadwhims]

The trick is to make use of your right hand.

Measure 24, I play the chord as 1-2-4, then during the first two beats I switch to holding the whole notes down with my 3rd and 5th fingers.  It's a bit tricky at first, but once your get the switch down it frees up the RH fingers 1 & 2 to help with the Bass.

So, the Bass clef part is fingered as:  (RH fingers will be bolded)

5213 - 2352 - 1 123 - 431

There's several other places where the RH can come in handy:

Measures 7 & 10, the RH can play the top note (F#) with the thumb, this also sets up the RH for the next measure because the thumb will already be in place.

Also, if you find your LH getting tired, the RH can definitely take part when it doesn't have to cover the melody.  Go ahead and experiment, but making full use of your all 10 fingers will definitely make the prelude much smoother.

[bernadette60614]

Just started working on this and need help with the following:

How do I pick up speed in the left hand?

What kind of pedaling should I use?

Thanks all, you're the best!

[diomedes]

I'd avoid the 345 combination at almost all costs. 234 in that situation would work.