Piano Fingering Essentials

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Planning the piano fingering of a piece might feel like an uninspiring chore to do... But using correct finger numbers at the very start of learning a piece helps you learn it faster and memorize it easier!

By learning the essential principles of piano fingering, pianists can improve their overall technique, easily play more challenging pieces, and avoid repetitive strain injuries. Additionally, mastering fingering techniques enables musicians to express themselves more effectively and accurately through the instrument.

Piano fingering is not only about physical movements but also requires the ability to mentally visualize and plan ahead, enabling musicians to execute complex passages smoothly. Developing solid piano fingering skills enhances musicality, technique, and expression, a critical aspect of mastering the piano.

Work Out The Piano Fingering First

With good piano fingering, you can play with more ease and fluidity, so it is well worth the effort!

Start by working out what fingers you will use as soon as you begin a new piece. This way, you'll immediately learn the correct "movement" with your fingers. You won't waste time later trying to re-learn incorrect fingering (too much).

Learning the correct piano fingering immediately saves time later.

Today most piano sheet music from a good edition has finger numbers already written in the score; checking it out first will save you a lot of time. Start by evaluating the finger numbers that already are there and see what works. There's no need to reinvent the wheel!

But in some music, there are no finger numbers written out. So you need to know some standard "rules" on using what fingers in what patterns, basic piano technique that has been tried and tested and works for most pianists.

Should Everyone Use the Same Fingers?

You might find some piano fingering that doesn't feel right at all. Sometimes it will suit one person's hand better than another, so it is essential to change if it doesn't suit you. 

So how do you plan your finger numbers? Using the correct fingers serves one simple purpose; to help us perform the piece easily and in the most effortless way.

It should help us to play challenging and/or fast passages with fluidity and without hesitation, and ultimately is a basic tool for us to be able to perform the piece as we want to express it musically.

When you learn to play the piano, using clever fingering becomes necessary when you leave the “five-finger stage” of playing. As soon as you reach the stage where you need to change hand position or stretch more than a fifth, you need to figure out what fingers to use.

Write it Down

When you work with writing and deciding on what fingers to use (and practicing!), always keep a pencil handy and write any changes you make as you work your way through the score.

Don't trust it to memory only, thinking, "ah, I will remember it anyway." Because you won't! And it is a big waste of energy trying to remember what worked before... I know...

Piano fingering is fundamental, but you have better things to focus on when playing the piece – (like musical expression and phrasing), so write it down!

4 Basic Piano Fingering Rules

When it comes to piano fingering, there are no hard and fast rules that work for every piece of music.

So, what are the rules for good piano fingering, especially if no finger numbers are written in the music? Well, actually- I would say whatever works- works!

However, if you're just starting out, it can be challenging to know what fingerings will work best for you. So, here are some basic principles that might help:

1. Avoid using your first fingers (thumbs) on a black key.

This is because the thumb is very short, and your hand will make unnecessary jerky movements.
But, there are exceptions to this “rule”; for example, when you play the whole piece mainly on the black keys, your hand will already be up on the black keys, so using the thumb is working well then.

2. Learn basic finger patterns.

Learn the basic finger patterns used when playing:

• scales
• chords and inversions 
• arpeggios

This will teach you "tried and tested" (over hundreds of years) finger patterns that work! Since music is made up of three main types of "building blocks" (or patterns);

1. Scales or part of scales,
2. Chords – broken, blocked, or arpeggiated,
3. and Intervals,

Learning what fingers to use for these piano technique patterns, takes care of most of your "problems."

3. Find Fingering That Works For As Long As Possible

Try to find a piano fingering that lets your hand stay in the same position for as long as possible. it's important to maintain a comfortable hand position but also to avoid any awkward stretches.

Normally you should try to use the same finger for repeated notes to maintain consistency and make it easier to play smoothly (but there are exceptions). Be "cleverly lazy," as I tell my students, and avoid moving around your hand here and there. Stay!

4. Proper piano fingering should always serve expression.

Think about each musical phrase you play and ask yourself these questions:

• Where does it lead to?
• Where is the peak or climax?
• Where is the landing or resting point?
• At what point does the phrase need to flow forward, and where can it stop?

If you notice what you thought was a clever and practical piano fingering stops the flow or makes a passage challenging to play- find another way, and you have solved a very important passage! (Playing now will also be much more fun when you “won” it!)

However, it's important to remember that sometimes you may need to adjust the fingerings to suit your own playing style or to create the sound you want. Don't be afraid to experiment and find what works best for you, even if it means deviating from the fingering markings in the score.

Overall, the goal is to find a fingering that feels natural and comfortable while allowing for maximum musical expression. So, don't stress too much about getting it "right" - just keep practicing and experimenting until you find what works best for you!

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