fantasie impromptu

[skunkfunk9]

This may be an easy question for some, but, since I haven't actually had lessons since I was about 10, I'm looking for an answer to this.  When playing the first line in chopin's fantasie impromptu, is it better to play the first c# with 4 or 3?  I mean the line that goes g# a g# g natural g# c# e etc....  I know that better is a loaded word, but what do most people play it with.  The fingering isn't in my version. 

[stevebob]

I've seen lots of editions of this piece; some editors specify 3, and others indicate 4 instead.  Use the fingering that works better and feels more comfortable to you at performance tempo.

A number of public domain editions are available on the net that offer fingering suggestions.  I recommend you download one that might be more useful to you.

[skunkfunk9]

Ok, thanks!

[fleetfingers]

I use 3, and never considered 4. That would feel awkward to me.

[fleetfingers]

I just went to the piano and tried to play it with the 4th finger. I feel that it is a less efficient movement. If you use the 3rd finger on C#, it barely has to move over to play its next note - D#. By contrast, if you use the 4th finger on C#, your hand either makes a bigger leap to get to the D#, or your 3rd finger awdwardly crawls over your 5th (depending on how long you hold the E).

[sucom]

I used 3 and wouldn't consider using my 4th.  The third finger is far better for speed and smoothness.