Missing part of finger advice

[windmill john]

Hi All,
First post and I’m not sure when I might ask questions. I have a fundamental I want to get right.
If you look at the attached video, I have three variations of finger movement/placement. This is due to missing lower digit of left pinkie.
The first is what the book said, F# played with finger five.
Variation two and three are easier.
Should I, before I ‘advance’… stick with finger five, having to slide my whole hand up, or can I adjust which finger. Whilst I’m not in pain, it is sometimes uncomfortable moving the shortened pinkie. I appreciate it depends on what notes follow, I just want to set a correct future.
Thanks

eature=shared

John

[lostinidlewonder]

If you had to use the 5th finger on the F# first play the thumb higher into the key so that the thumb and the 5th can both play their notes without causing your wrist to twist.

If this pattern is all you had to play then you could also try12432. I'd avoid using the 4th finger twice in row in this instance.

[windmill john]

Thanks for your reply. I couldn’t do 12432.
Whilst I obviously don’t need to follow the book, it was saying.
Left hand
E,C,A,F#,G using fingers 1,2,3,5,4

I guess I need to know how much I can bend the rules to make it more comfortable for my shortened little finger. I have the stretch for an octave, just found below’s exercise a little strained.

[quantum]

Think of this pattern as a group of notes, rather than individual notes.  Play the entire group as a solid chord (similar to how you would play CEG as a chord).  Bottom to top, your group is F#, G, A, C, E.  Play this at the piano, and see if can find a hand position where all keys in this group feel like they fit under the hand. 

The issue that is likely causing an awkward feeling is the movement from F# to G.  F# being played with the 5th - a shorter finger, where as all the longer fingers play white keys.  Playing fingers 2, 3, and 4  in between the black keys will give you a better hand position.  In the video, you are playing a little between the black keys, but there is still room to do more.  Shifting the hand from playing at the edge of the white keys, away from your torso to reach the F# is a very inefficient motion, form a good habit of not doing that. 

Involve more of the wrist and forearm.  Finger joints, wrist, forearm, elbow, shoulder: these are all part of the playing mechanism, aim to make these things more flexible. 

Listen.  What are your ears telling you?  In your video excerpt, the 3rd finger stands out as having a more inconsistent tone than your other fingers.  Work on getting better control of tone with your 3rd. 

In a passage such as this, it is entirely possible to have fingers placed above the keys you would like them to play.  In in your video, you have a good start with E and C, but then spend more effort searching for the A.  It would be much more efficient to approach this as: in this hand position all my fingers are ready to play, as they are already above the required keys. 

Try this alternative fingering.  It involves crossing the 5 under the 4. 
1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

[windmill john]

Thanks quantum. I thought you or someone would mention my lack of consistent finger pressure… I’m trying. I still focus so much on hitting the correct notes, some fingers really ‘hit’ the keys!
I’ll try moving my fingers further forward and also try the notes in reverse order, starting at F#.

I appreciate the input.

[windmill john]

Thanks again all. I’m just practising now moving the hands more towards the fall board; if I had one.
Also quantum, your suggestion of 5th under 4th might work for me due to the length of my shortened finger; it felt quite comfortable.