Fingering chords

[joohn]

I've been trying to teach myself the piano for a few months now. One thing that I have a lot of trouble with though is figuring out what fingers to use on certain chords and just notes in general. I can't think of any specific example but whenever I'm working on a piece usually what will keep me roadblocked are the fingerings. Do you guys have any tips on how to know what fingers to use?

Also. I've been trying to teach myself how to play but I don't really know what direction to go on. What I've been doing is just learning the stuff from this site:
https://www.melbournepianolessons.net/ameb-2008-syllabus.html

Do you guys think that's a good source or do you have any other suggestions? Right now I can play up to Burgmuller's Innocence from that list.

[evitaevita]

First of all, I believe that if you want to learn playing the piano seriously at an advanced level, then you should look for a good teacher who could give you correct instructions in order to help you go on, as he would know you better than anyone else. Each one of us has different needs. For example, if someone lacks in specific technical issues, then his teacher can recommend him some appropriate exercices and studies.

However, if you just want to learn how to play some pieces just for fun, then practice carefully in order to avoid mistakes (or even injuries, if you overdo it), and you'll be ok!

In my opinion, AMEB syllabus is a good source, because pieces have been arranged in difficulty order. There is also the ABRSM syllabus which is more popular: https://www.abrsm.org/en/exams/gradedMusicExams/latestSyllabuses.html
and syllabuses by the Trinity College:
https://www.trinitycollege.co.uk/site/?id=1474
But, you have to know that the level of each piece is subjective. I suppose that now you can try some pieces of the following ones:

-other easy ones from Burgmüller Op.100 (as you've already played one or two):
https://imslp.org/wiki/25_%C3%89tudes_faciles_et_progressives,_Op.100_(Burgm%C3%BCller,_Friedrich)

-Bach: Anna Magdalena Notebook: Minuet in G Minor, G Minor, A Minor, C Minor, Marche in D Major, Musette in D Major, Gavotte in F Major, Menuet in D Minor (It may be difficult for you to find the correct fingerings. Then, I can tell you what fingerings are the most convenient for me)
https://imslp.org/wiki/Notebooks_for_Anna_Magdalena_Bach_(Bach,_Johann_Sebastian)

The 1st Prelude in C Major BWV846 from the 1st Book of the Well Tempered Clavier:
https://imslp.org/wiki/Das_wohltemperierte_Klavier_I,_BWV_846-869_(Bach,_Johann_Sebastian)

-Schumann: Album for the Young Op.68: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 18
https://imslp.org/wiki/Album_f%C3%BCr_die_Jugend,_Op.68_(Schumann,_Robert)

-Tchaikovsky: Children's Album Op.39: 1, 7, 8, 15, 16, 17, 18, 23
https://petrucci.mus.auth.gr/imglnks/usimg/b/b5/IMSLP07996-Tchaikovsky_-_Op.39_-_Album_for_the_Young.pdf

-Wolfang Amadeus Mozart:
https://imslp.org/wiki/Minuet_in_C_major,_K.1f_(Mozart,_Wolfgang_Amadeus)

-Leopold Mozart:
https://imslp.org/wiki/Menuet_(Mozart,_Leopold)

-you can try some pieces from Piano Methods:
https://javanese.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/1/1c/IMSLP81208-PMLP31149-F_Beyer-Op101.pdf
https://conquest.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/e/ed/IMSLP212357-PMLP354646-Addison__D.C._-_Kinder-Garten_Music_School_-_Pieces_designed_for_4_to_8_year_old_children_Book_II_-_C._1881.pdf
https://erato.uvt.nl/files/imglnks/usimg/7/77/IMSLP106221-PMLP216604-Practical_Method_for_the_Pianoforte_Op249-Kohler.pdf
https://conquest.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/a/a8/IMSLP241611-PMLP391095-Wohl_ABC.pdf
https://javanese.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/2/2b/IMSLP82020-PMLP167009-m1469th-New_Grade_Piano-Method-First_Grade_Bk2.pdf
https://conquest.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/b/b6/IMSLP82021-PMLP167009-m1469th-New_Grade_Piano-Method-First_Grade_Bk3.pdf
https://javanese.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/4/47/IMSLP82022-PMLP167009-m1469th-Five_Finger_Exercises.pdf
https://javanese.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/0/06/IMSLP168021-PMLP299122-Methode_Elemntaire_et_Pratique-I.Philipp.pdf
https://conquest.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/b/b8/IMSLP105466-PMLP08821-Practical_Method_for_Beginners.pdf
https://conquest.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/d/d1/IMSLP192957-PMLP331863-musicalcurriculu00root.pdf

You can also try this:
https://www.pianoworld.com/Uploads/files/Graded_Pieces_All.pdf
Generally, you can find sheet music of classical pieces in: https://imslp.org/wiki/Main_Page

As for what fingerings you should use, I can say that, most of the time, this is a matter of experience. As long as days, months, years pass, you realise what fingerings are more convenient and suitable in each case. You can also practice scales, whose fingerings can be applied in most passages that are similar to them. Additionally, they can prove really beneficial to you, as they constitute a nice form of exercice (although they are not so pleasant to play...) and, as I mentioned above, passages like them exist in most pieces.

Fingerings for chords depend on which chord you have to play. For example, for the chord do-mib-sol you can use 1-3-5 for the right hand and 5-3-1 for the left. But, fingerings also depend on what you have to play before and after the chord. If there are any specific chords that you have to play, maybe you could tell us so that I could help you, because I'm not so sure what you're talking about.

Evitaevita