need a clever fingering

[speedcuber]

any suggestions for going up in the 3rd bar and going down in the 5th bar?

everything i try either has a really awkward 1 on a black key or fails at speed. but probably i just missed something. thanks for all tips



(in case you wonder: this is from stenhammar's 1st piano concerto)

[j_menz]

I assume you mean the run up at the end of the second bar. If you are using 13:4 on the first bit then starting on the e flat 341234 should set you up solidly for the stretch of the first chord in bar 3.

For the descent in bar 4 starting on the d flat 3143214 sets you back up for 13:4 for bar5.

[quantum]

Rehearsal D:
Use 12, 3.

Bar 3:
(12)323 1234   (15)4545454   (15)432 3213

[j_menz]

The difference between the two fingerings, and the thing that should determine which you use, is whether you use 13:4 or 12:3 on the (forgets name of shakey bit). I'm guessing you don't have any trouble with that bit, and that you have a preferred fingering already, so go with that and choose the rest accordingly.

[speedcuber]

i am afraid of the change between 3 (or 4) on f and 1 on g flat, that looks very difficult in both directions. but as the rest flows really nicely i think i am going to stick with that.

[iratior]

Well!  This was more difficult than it looked!  I would finger as follows, starting with the second measure:
               4 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 3 4 1 2 1 2 4 3 4 3 4 3 4 3 4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1
               1    1   1    1   1                    1   1    1   1    1

I believe that, whenever reasonably practicable, odd-numbered fingers should be used on odd-numbered beats of the measure, or more generally, the beats that the measure would have if the kind of note getting the beat was the fastest notes (in this case, the fastest notes are 16ths, so treat it as 16/16 time for fingering purposes.  Then the odd-numbered beats are the first, third, fifth, seventh, ninth, eleventh, thirteenth and fifteenth).

[j_menz]

I believe that, whenever reasonably practicable, odd-numbered fingers should be used on odd-numbered beats of the measure

Have to say that's a new one on me. To what end, may I ask?

[iratior]

Thank you for your interest.  My theory of fingering is something I thought up for myself.  I don't have all the advantages when it comes to hands:  my fingers are double-jointed and my stretch is only a minor tenth.  But I find that fingers 1,3, and 5 are naturally more agile and strong than 2 and 4.  So it made sense to apply the stronger fingers on the stronger beats of the measure.  One advantage jumps to the eyes immediately:  it can be arranged for fingering to be more or less the same, regardless of the key.   This improves my ability to transpose, and I use the Bach Little Preludes, transposed to all the keys, for practice.