introduction and help needed with bass clef fingering for Purcell minuet

[latelearner123]

hello piano street,

this is my first post. I'd like to say thanks to piano street staff for creating such an amazing website. I will be eagerly reading these forums every day.

I need help with learning the fingering on a Henry Purcell minuet. I have attached a photo of the score. This score is tricky for me. the bass clef has two melodies going on at the same time, and according to the comment above the score the left hand plays them both a once. how should I practice this? could someone explain the rythm and fingering on bass clef bars five, six, seven, and eight? an explanation of those bars should help me enough to figure out the rest.

[timothy42b]

could someone explain the rythm and fingering on bass clef bars five, six, seven, and eight? an explanation of those bars should help me enough to figure out the rest.

There are finger numbers on each note.  These choices look like they will work fine.  Thumb is 1, little finger is 5.

You just need to count.  A dotted half gets 3 beats, so that finger will stay down until the end of the measure.  If there's a rest on beat 1, just hold the dotted half.  When beat 2 comes along, play that quarter note with the finger indicated.  Then on beat 3, let up that finger so that quarter note stops while you play the beat 3 quarter with the next finger indicated. 

[j_menz]

Basically what Tim said. I'd just add that the A is tied between bars 6 and 7, so it is held down, not played again.

You should also note the rests, they will help you see the two voices.