Confused about fingering

[movilogo]

I am an adult learner trying to play on Casio CTK6200 keyboard.

I don't have any teacher - just trying to learn of my own.

I have researched on internet for best fingering advice but getting conflicting opinions 

Method 1

Chopin's rule - use left thumb on C, right thumb on E, right little finger on B or C. This what shown in https://www.key-notes.com/piano-fingering.html

I find this is analogous to typing on computer keyboard  I am a touch typist. I keep my index fingers on F and J key (computer not piano!) and move my fingers. Chopins method simulates a "home" position via keeping 3 middle fingers on black keys.

Method 2

Shown by lot of people on YouTube. C major is played by (right hand) 123 12345 fingers. I tried this one two but feel like I have to look at keyboard to move my thumb from C to F.

Method 3

Anything else?

I know people say there are no fixed rules but just want to make sure that I don't end up with bad practice from the start!

Please advise.

[stevensk]

The fingering is dependent on what you are playing

[adodd81802]

Hi Movilogo.

I'll first get out the way that without a teacher it can be very hard to "feel" the correct motions required to achieve the results you want.

You could watch how an artist paints all day and still not be able to to draw anything more than a stick man, until you are shown what's really going on, the thought process, the things not visible by the eye.

There are no fingering rules, do you have fingers and hands identical to Chopin? to Beethoven? To me? Unlikely.

The most general rule that I would adhere to is where possible avoid stretches, jolty-movements and avoid twists, that goes for any hands for any fingers and will cause injuries in all situations. Focus on that and work on fingering that best adheres to that.

I am also a touch typist and what I honestly believe is while typing can keep your fingers dexterous, it has little to no benefit on playing a piano, if anything i'd say it would be the other way around.

My little fingers are very strong from the piano and my type speed is very strong. Imagine lifting 1kg weights all day and then going home lifting 5kg, it doesn't work! However 5kg to 1kg is easy right?! (thinking about weighted piano keys)

Also I find with typing (particularly if you have average-bad posture) your wrists tend to rest on the table or a wrist rest and your fingers do all the work, curling, pivoting wrists, etc it's not the way to play the piano and as you're probably aware for users that spend a long time at the computer often develop carpal tunnel.

Wrists should remain where possible in align with the hands and flow with the hands rather than static (there are so many things on posture and wrist/ arm movements I could advise you on)

With regards to fingers, if you have never learned scales (a run of notes up and down the keyboard starting on a different key) you will not yet know that the same fingers don't apply to the same scales, furthermore you don't use the same fingers for the same hands and even more so you don't just tuck the thumb under the 3rd and you haven't considered coming back down the keyboard

In answer to your last question regarding looking at the keyboard to move your thumb form C to F, your thumb needs to move every step of the way, it shouldn't sit above C until you reach F and then jolt (no jolty movements!!!) under the 3rd finger, it should move around with the 1st and then the 2nd fingers so that it's pretty much in line/ under the 3rd when you're about to move to the F

A little exercise you could practice would be to play only C/D/E/F with your 1/2/3/1 then as soon as you're on F, bring the hand back and play 3/2/1 and then back and forth until you're used to the motion, if you really want to isolate just play D/E/F.

Also bare in mind you will often use a similar motion under the 4th (if you are playing scales of more than one octave) so practice the same thing with your thumb going under the 4th also.

PM me if you want more info, I can provide a couple videos slowly showing the movements i'm on about and explaining in detail.

To summarise - Get a teacher! If you are worried about beginners practice methods and taking the piano seriously, that's probably your best answer. If you are going to be a hobby player, i'd still consider a teacher, but otherwise wouldn't be too concerned with your practice as long as you don't feel any pain whilst playing.