How would you finger these scales (Carol of the Bells) [pic inside]

[azone]

Hi all this is my first post. I want to know how you teachers and professionals would finger these few passes from the george winston arrangement of carol of the bells. I've tried a few different fingerings and I'm not sure which is most comfortable. I also don't like to practice a piece until I decide on fingering first so I don't hit a road block trying to change later.

Anyway, basically the 1st 5th and 7th bars are the three different scales in question. There's a numbering in the pic but there's a few other variations that seems appropriate as well. Keep in mind these are 32nds at fast tempo. Thanks.

 

[j_menz]

I'd use 5-3-1 for the first three notes of each (I think the rest of them come naturally after that).  It is important to do this without trying to stretch the fingers, but rather by moving the hand. If you are not familiar with how to do this - is there someone who can show you/watch you?

OK, so you posted the wrong picture and what I said now makes no sense whatsoever.

[andreslr6]

the first scale I would do 4-2-1-3-2-1-3-2-1, the problem is that you have to go over the thumb twice, but it's manageable with good practice, even at high speeds. The problem I see with the fingering that's written on your score is the small stretch between the 5 and 4 on that first third, which can result in uncontrolled rhythm, for me it's harder to achieve control on that than passing over the thumb twice.

2nd scale looks good for me, I wouldn't change the fingering.

3rd one, I'd do the same as in the first one except on the last 4 16ths which I would leave the same fingering with 3 on Bb and 1 on the D.

[the89thkey]

the first scale I would do 4-2-1-3-2-1-3-2-1, the problem is that you have to go over the thumb twice, but it's manageable with good practice, even at high speeds. The problem I see with the fingering that's written on your score is the small stretch between the 5 and 4 on that first third, which can result in uncontrolled rhythm, for me it's harder to achieve control on that than passing over the thumb twice.

2nd scale looks good for me, I wouldn't change the fingering.

3rd one, I'd do the same as in the first one except on the last 4 16ths which I would leave the same fingering with 3 on Bb and 1 on the D.

Agree with these fingerings. 4-2-1-3-2-1-3-2-1 for the first four, and then in the fifth bar use 5-3-2-1-4-3-2-1-2. Seventh bar you can do 4-2-1-3-2-1-3-2-1-2-3-1 and then repeat. Don't know how it goes on after that so I can't give you the fingering with absolute certainty for the last bar.

[azone]

(j_menz.. apologies for updating the pic..I uploaded the whole (score) page at first instead of the small section)

Thanks for the responses I mapped it out the same. My instinct was to go 4-2-1-3-2-1-3-2-1  on the first bar since the run ends and you don't have to climb back up with thumb under or lateral movement. I also checked out a few clips on youtube from competent pianists and they all did the same.

The 5th bar is a little fiddly, some people do 5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1-2 but that's not the technique or the tendencies I was taught would take me. For me the initial 5-4 would break down at speed. The fingering as is in the pic seemed appropriate to me as well.  

The 7th bar I was also curious about. The fingering in the pic seems too difficult for high speed passes and really just wrong from normal technique. I mapped it the same as both of you as well. The only catch is catching the D with the thumb on the way back up. It helps to move the hand laterally instead of going thumb under but it's still difficult to catch the D cleanly on the way by at ~172bpm. That's the main one I wanted to confirm as I didn't want to practice it 5,000 times using the wrong technique.

Thanks.  

[lelle]

I think the fingering in the picture is pretty good actually. If you are supposed to play at 172 bpm it's more comfortable the less you have to shift your hand. The written fingering calls for changes of hand position once per beat or less. I tried playing your score with the written fingering and my metronome at 172 bpm and I agree that you have no time for thumb under in the 7th bar at this tempo and the shift on the way up was tricky for me as well, but I think the written fingering works fine if you practise.

[wnlqxod]

The first four bars: 4-2-1-3-2-1-3-2-1
The next two bars: What the book says (5-3-2-1-4-3-2-1-2)
The last two bars: 4-2-1-3-2-1-3-2-1-2-3-1-4-2-1-3-2-1-3-2-1-2-3-1