How to Learn Piano Fingering

As a beginning pianist, you will need advice on which fingers to use on which notes until you can play without looking at your fingers. Here are some basics of fingering.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pianos
• Sheet Music For Piano
• Piano Stool

Playing Music

1. Using the fingering technique you've just learned, play the following tune [4/4 rhythm counting 1-2-3-4 each bar;( / = bar measure; __ = rest)]: E(3)-E(3)-F(4)-G(5) / G(5)-F(4)-E(3)-D(2) / C(1)-C(1)-D(2)-E(3) / E(3)-D(2)-D(2)__(2) / E(3)-E(3)-F(4)-G(5) / G(5)-F(4)-E(3)-D(2) / C(1)-C(1)-D(2)-E(3) / D(2)__(2)-C(1)__(1) / D(2)-D(2)-E(3)-C(1) / D(2)-F(4)-E(3)-C(1) / D(2)-F(4)-E(3)-D(2) / C(1)-D(2)-D(2)__(2) / E(3)-E(3)-F(4)-G(5) / G(5)-F(4)-E(3)-D(2) / C(1)-C(1)-D(2)-E(3) / D(2)-C(1)-C(1)__(1) /

2. Name that tune. Check out User Tips to see if your answer matches JD's!

Fingering Exercises

3. Learn to name the notes on the keyboard you are about to play.

4. Look down at the keyboard to find the notes of the C major scale: C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C' (white keys only).

5. Play on a mid-range octave (the eight notes of the diatonic scale). Fingers in piano music are numbered as thumb = 1, index finger = 2, middle finger = 3, ring finger = 4, little finger = 5.

6. Place your right thumb on the key that corresponds to the note of C.

7. Play the following exercise with your right hand: C(1)-D(2)-E(3)-F(4)-G-(5)-F(4)-E(3)-D(2)-C(1). Look at the keyboard while playing until you have the numbers down.

8. Play the exercise without looking at the notes and numbers.

9. Finally, practice without looking at what your fingers are doing.

10. Play three notes of the scale in the following manner: C(1)-E(3)-G(5); F(1)-A(2)-C'(5); B(5)-G(3)-E(1).

11. Note that where notes proceed in alphabetical order, you use your fingers in the same order: if a white key is left out, the corresponding finger is also left out.

12. Do a similar exercise using the fingers of your left hand: E(3)-D(2)-C(1); C(1)-F(4)-G(5); G(5)-E(3)-C(1); G(4)-A(3)-B(2).

13. Note that in G-A-B, the index finger (2) crosses over the middle and ring finger. This is a technique you will need to use frequently in piano music.

14. Play fairly smoothly and as softly as you can.

15. Raise one key at the precise moment when you press down on the next key to avoid gaps between sounds.

16. Play the exercises very slowly until you can do them smoothly without looking at your fingers, then increase your speed. You will never get any piano piece right if you play too fast, skipping over mistakes!

Tips & Warnings

• Start on a book of easy piano studies. You can purchase piano music at any music store.

[rgfink]

on 3/15/2009 thanks for a nice article. the 8th or so bar of "Ode to Joy" (by my ear, I'm sure I could be incorrect) seems to lack an ascending 'E' in the D-F sequence. Don't have any sheet music to verify this tough. It would be odd having heard this piece so many times that I would have "added" it.

[PianoTeacher]

on 9/20/2008 These are good tips! ~smile~ I am a piano teacher and I teach proper fingering in all various types of music and how to figure it out even if the fingering is not written on the music. I just want to comment that fingering is essential to success on the piano and is a major difference between a good pianist and a "not so good" pianist.
Lisa at LearnPianoOnline.com

[PianoTeacher]

on 9/20/2008 I learned fingering from the lessons at:
http://www.learnpianoonline.com
It teaches how to use proper fingering in all different songs and how to figure it out when there is no fingering. It has been very valuable to my success with the piano.

[Nenye]

on 9/19/2008 Nenye from Nigeria- I'm just getting to know about ur fingering lessons. i travelled out of home so i'm far from my piano but as soon as i get home i'll practice the firngerings and paste another comment on my performance.

thanks a lot.

[PianoWizard]

on 3/5/2008 Thanks for teaching how to learn piano fingering. For those people who want to learn how to play the piano and read notes, you should try Piano Wizard. Piano Wizard is a video game wherein you will enjoy learning how to play the piano. It will teach you the proper fingering. You can also learn to play your favorite songs with Piano Wizard. Check out this demo of Piano Wizard - http://www.squidoo.com/piano-wizard-queen