Help on glissando

[semicroma]

Hello and sorry for my awful english.

I'm studying Prokofiev - Prelude op 12 n 7 and it's the first time I have to learn a piece with a glissando. I have to say every note sounds clear so I suppose I'm not doing it too badly, but the problem is that it really hurts I played it for a long while this afternoon and my fingers were bleeding... So I wanted to ask you if you know some ways not to destroy my fingers, specific exercises or something like that. Thank you

[hmrichter]

Well, the way I did it when I learned a Ginastera Rondo was you use the nail of your thumb, sweeping upwards with the thumb and index finger pressing together, and you play the keys with the nail of your thumb. Kind of hard to explain through text, though.

[hfmadopter]

Hello and sorry for my awful english.

I'm studying Prokofiev - Prelude op 12 n 7 and it's the first time I have to learn a piece with a glissando. I have to say every note sounds clear so I suppose I'm not doing it too badly, but the problem is that it really hurts I played it for a long while this afternoon and my fingers were bleeding... So I wanted to ask you if you know some ways not to destroy my fingers, specific exercises or something like that. Thank you

I tend to use my middle finger on ascending. I brace lightly with my thumb at the first knuckle. This gives a little flex to the finger tip. Really you can use any finger that lets you land on the top chord correctly but that's how I do it. Descending I use my thumb, brace lightly at the first knuckle with my index finger. Surprisingly you don't need a lot of down pressure to do this. My fingers have never bled from this FWIW. You should only need to practice enough to get the timing right, then utilize it in general practice and performance of the piece..

Do you have ivory key tops ? If so you may need to sand the edges a little.

[keystroke3]

I think the main thing is to make sure you're only hitting your fingernail and not the skin right above it.  Try doing some glissandos really slow and focusing on the contact point.  Hope that helps!