Piano Forum

Pages: [1] Go Down

Topic: Chopin Op.10 No.1 help (Read 3160 times)

hamishscott4

PS Silver Member
Newbie
Posts: 16

Hello,

I have been working on this etude for the past few weeks and I'm consistently struggling with bars 31 and 35-36 (the F major 7 and A major chords). I'm playing both with 1-2-4-5 and find my 4th finger gets trapped between the black keys when reaching for the next note. These bars are quite a stretch in both directions for my 4th finger as well.

My solution is to move my hand further into the piano (so my fingers are pressing nearer the start of the keys) but I'm still finding this hard. I don't have a teacher to check this with.

Are there any tips for playing/practising these bars?

Thanks

Logged

comma

PS Silver Member
Jr. Member
Posts: 31

Re: Chopin Op.10 No.1 help

Reply #1 on: June 16, 2020, 01:21:47 PM

Problems like this usually arise when the wrist is too low. Try to keep it a little bit higher (but still very flexible) and use your third finger instead of the fourth in bar 31.

Logged

https://concertpianist.academy

vladimir_ikhonov

PS Silver Member
Newbie
Posts: 6

Re: Chopin Op.10 No.1 help

Reply #2 on: June 27, 2020, 01:24:20 AM

Like comma said, I would recommend 1-2-3-5 rather than 1-2-4-5 in M. 31. If it helps, I use 5-4-2-1 in M. 30 and 5-3-2-1 in M. 32. In M. 35, I saise my wrist as my hand goes from A->E->A->C#, then lower it for the next A. In M. 36, my wrist actually stays at a pretty constant height. You should exaggerate these motions when you practice slowly.

If it makes you feel any better, M. 30-36 are probably the hardest of the piece for everyone.

Logged

oreno

PS Silver Member
Sr. Member
Posts: 269

Re: Chopin Op.10 No.1 help

Reply #3 on: June 28, 2020, 02:26:47 PM

Hello
Try 2-4-1-4
You have to move your hand very fast, but it will solve your problem.
Oren

Logged

oreno

PS Silver Member
Sr. Member
Posts: 269

Re: Chopin Op.10 No.1 help

Reply #4 on: June 28, 2020, 02:28:43 PM

….going back down
5-2-1-3
Oren

Logged

uncleal

PS Silver Member
Newbie
Posts: 2

Re: Chopin Op.10 No.1 help

Reply #5 on: August 11, 2021, 05:12:18 AM

I know this is old but in both of those what works for me is 1-2-4-3 (I guess 1-2-5-3 is also possible). It feels funny at first in the middle of all the stretches but once you get used to it it is very reliable for me (and I also similarly do 1-2-5-3 on the F major in bar 11). You just have to learn to "throw" your hand quickly over 4 or 5 but then land relaxed enough on the 3rd finger to continue evenly and do it again. Hope this works if you still needed it.

Also FYI, bar 31 is F7 or you could say F dominant 7; F major 7 would be with E natural instead of E flat

Logged

Sign-up to post reply

Pages: [1] Go Up

For more information about this topic, click search below!

Piano Street Magazine:
Piano Street’s Top Picks of 2024

We wish you a Happy New Year with a list of recommended reading from Piano Street. These are the most read, discussed or shared articles of 2024. Read more

Piano Forum

Topic: Chopin Op.10 No.1 help (Read 3160 times)

Piano Street Magazine:Piano Street’s Top Picks of 2024

Piano Street Magazine:
Piano Street’s Top Picks of 2024