Piano Fingering

1. Learn to name the notes on the keyboard you are about to play.
2. 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).
3. 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.
4. Place your right thumb on the key that corresponds to the note of C.
5. 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.
6. Play the exercise without looking at the notes and numbers.
7. Finally, practice without looking at what your fingers are doing.
8. 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).
9. 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.
10. 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).
11. 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.
12. Play fairly smoothly and as softly as you can.
13. Raise one key at the precise moment when you press down on the next key to avoid gaps between sounds.
14. 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!

Playing Music

How to Position Yourself at the Piano

1. Adjust the height of your chair so it feels comfortable to you. You might want to use a pillow. If you have a stool, adjust it to find the height that suits you best.
2. Sit forward and at the center of the keyboard.
3. Sit at such a height and distance from the keyboard that your arms are naturally bent and your fingers fall on the white keys easily and can reach the black keys when stretched out a little.
4. Let your elbows hang loosely, fairly close to your body and not lifted too high.
5. Keep your forearms level with the keyboard, with your elbows a little higher.
6. Rest the ball (not the toe) of your right foot firmly on the damper (right-foot) pedal, ready for action.
7. Rest the left foot further back from the left-foot pedal, as the left pedal is not used frequently.
8. Imagine holding an apple in your hands. Your hands are now cup-shaped and the fingers bent and rounded.
9. Rest the tips of your fingers vertically on the white keys.
10. Position the sides of your thumbs (not the tips) on the white keys; bend your thumbs slightly.

• Finger positions are only approximate and may have to be adjusted when black keys or certain styles are involved.
• There is no "correct" height. Some players prefer a high seat, others a low one.
• Keep your fingernails short all the time.

Examples