Choosing Fingering

[bonesquirrel]

Hello everyone I am a new member of this website. I am self taught and can only just read music at an elementary level and cannot sight read at all. My current repertoire includes Bach Minuet in C Minor, Chopin Prelude No 4, Moonlight Sonata 1st Movement. As well as other sections of pieces (Rachmaninoff Preludes, more advance Beethoven Sonatas etc). I am currently learning Greigs Piano Concerto in A Minor, Rachmaninoff 3rd Piano Concerto and one of Chopins Nocturnes.

Now that you have a breif introduction, down to the point. I am stuck with some pieces that I cal working on when it comes to my fingering, ESSPECIALLY Rachmaninoffs 3rd Piano Concerto. I am simply requesting tips on how to find or improvise the practice of correct fingering, when all tutorials or scores available are absent of fingering guidance (finger numbers on the score)

Any response will be greatly appreciated

[j_menz]

Any response will be greatly appreciated

We'll see.

Put down the Grieg, and the Rach 3 and probably the Nocturne and learn to walk before you try to run. You need way more than fingering suggestions.

Get a grade book, or list (such as on this website) and start working your way through pieces at about your grade level. Never more than one above something you can actually play satisfactorily.

That way, you'll not only learn how to sort out your own fingering (generally speaking), you'll know what else you need to do, and have learnt to actually do it.

[bonesquirrel]

I sent you a PM. Did you receive it?

[thalbergmad]

My bullshitometer is off the scale.

[pianoman53]

Drop the concertos, and learn stuff that you will be able to play well.
Some more chopin preludes, some mozart sonatas and rondos, Haydn, Bach... loads of Bach... and maybe some Chopin nocturnes...

[stevensk]

Drop the concertos, and learn stuff that you will be able to play well.
Some more chopin preludes, some mozart sonatas and rondos, Haydn, Bach... loads of Bach... and maybe some Chopin nocturnes...

-Thumbs up!   

[bonesquirrel]

My bullshitometer is off the scale.

I swear all you do is say crap on every post, stop using this forum if all you do is be an a*s

[pianoman53]

Okay, so here's how you should chose a fingering:

Find out how you want to phrase it.
Find a few fingerings that would benefit the phrasing (as in, don't jump, or change position too much on weak beats)
Find the one that's both comfortable, and help the phrasing.

Enjoy the parts in the Rachmaninoff that isn't the beginning.

[eduardom]

There isnt a written rule for fingering as, in my opinion, everyone has to find the fingering that best suits him. So i would say you just have to try a lot of  fingerings and then decide which one is the most comfortable.

Also, as pianoman53 said, that concertos are some of the most difficult pieces of music to play,and there are thousands of solo piano pieces that are very beatiful and easier to learn and perform.