Learn Correct Piano Fingering and Hand Position On The Piano

In piano playing, the term fingering refers to which finger you use to play each key. To play piano most comfortably and efficiently, you’ll need to know correct fingering, or the best finger to use to play each note in a piece of music.

The purpose of using correct fingering is to position your hands and fingers so you’ll be able to play the current note and reach the key for the next note without having to rearrange your fingers or relocate your hands, which can interrupt your playing.

The Piano Fingering System

The piano fingering system numbers the fingers of each hand from 1–5, starting with the thumb. Fingering numbers appear above and below the staff and tell the pianist which finger to use to play each note.

• Numbers that appear above the grand staff indicate fingerings for the right hand.
• Numbers that appear below the grand staff indicate fingerings for the left hand.

Complete fingering guidelines are usually provided only in music written for beginners. That said, in most beginner pieces, and in nearly all advanced pieces, fingering information is often provided only for difficult passages.

How Pianists Know Which Fingers to Use

Since piano music rarely includes strict fingering guidelines for every note in a piece, pianists must learn some basic techniques for moving the fingers up and down the keyboard in the most efficient possible manner. One of the best ways to develop a sense of how to finger any piano passage is to learn piano scales. Learning to play scales forces you to resolve challenging fingering situations with practical techniques, such as passing the thumb under the middle finger when playing ascending notes. Once you learn a few of these techniques, you can apply them to passages in actual piano pieces with the most efficient fingering possible.

Playing a C Major Scale with the Right Hand

It’s easiest to begin practicing proper fingering with just your right hand. Most beginners start by playing a C major scale. Try playing the scale by following these guidelines.

1. Start with a finger 1 (your thumb) on middle C.
2. Play the first three notes (C–D–E) with fingers 1–2–3.
3. Pass finger 1 under finger 3.
4. Play F–G–A–B–C with fingers 1–2–3–4–5.

To descend back down the C major scale:

1. Starting with finger 5 (your pinky), play C–B–A–G–F with fingers 5–1 in a row.
2. Cross finger 3 over finger 1.
3. Play E–D–C with fingers 3–2–1.

Playing a C Major Scale with the Left Hand

To play an ascending C major scale with your left hand, start with your pinky (finger 5) instead of your thumb (finger 1).

1. Place finger 5 (your pinkie) on the C below middle C.
2. Play the first five notes (C–D–E–F–G) with fingers 5–4–3–2–1.
3. Pass finger 3 over finger 1.
4. Play A–B–C with fingers 3, 2, and finally, 1.

To descend down the C major scale with just the left hand:

1. Starting with finger 1 (your thumb), play C–B–A with fingers 1–3 in a row.
2. Cross finger 1 under finger 3.
3. Play G–F–E–D–C with fingers 1–2–3–4–5.

Playing a Piece of Music with Both Hands

Written piano music is a bit like a map. Before beginning to play any new piece, it’s crucial that you decipher this “map” to assess all the information it contains. Study the following example piece, Beethoven’s famous “Ode to Joy” melody. Then compare your findings to the list of information about the piece that follows.

Deciphering Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy”

• Key signature: None is indicated, so assume it’s C major (or A minor).
• Time signature: 4/4; give a quarter note one beat.
• Tempo instructions: Vivace; play the piece at a lively pace.
• Fingering instructions: Find these in the 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 8th measures.
• Dynamics or articulation symbols: Slurs throughout indicate that you should play smoothly.
• Repetition or navigation symbols: None are present, so play the piece straight through to the end.
• Sharps, flats, or natural signs: None are present, so play no sharps or flats.

Playing Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy”

Bearing in mind all of the information above, follow these steps to play the piece:

1. Play the right-hand notes (in the treble staff) alone.
2. Play the left-hand notes (in the bass staff) alone.
3. With both hands together, play just the first measure.
4. Practice a measure until you’ve mastered it. Then add the next one.
5. Play the entire piece slowly (at about half tempo) but keep the tempo consistent.
6. After mastering this tempo, practice until you can play the music at the correct tempo.

Additional Resources:

• Official Yamaha Music Education Website (https://www.yamaha.com/education/): Explore Yamaha’s comprehensive resources for piano education, including tutorials, sheet music, and tips for piano enthusiasts.
• Steinway & Sons (https://www.steinway.com/): Visit the official website of one of the world’s most renowned piano manufacturers for insights into piano craftsmanship and performance.