Finger numbers
· Posture and body · Level 1 · 8 min
On the piano the fingers are numbered 1 to 5, from thumb to little finger, and this is true for both hands:
| Finger | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | thumb |
| 2 | index finger |
| 3 | middle finger |
| 4 | ring finger |
| 5 | little finger |
These numbers appear above (right hand) or below (left hand) the notes in a score: that is the fingering. Fingering is not a detail: a good fingering makes a passage easy, a bad one makes it impossible at tempo. Editors and teachers spend a lot of time choosing it; respect it, especially at first.
The symmetry trap
The two hands are symmetrical, like mirror images. On C D E F G, the right hand plays 1 2 3 4 5, but the left hand plays 5 4 3 2 1. A rising line in the right hand starts with the thumb; a rising line in the left hand starts with the little finger. This is the number one source of confusion.
M:4/4
L:1/4
Q:1/4=80
K:C
%%staves {RH LH}
V:RH clef=treble
V:LH clef=bass
[V:RH] !1!C !2!D !3!E !4!F | !5!G !4!F !3!E !2!D | !1!C4 |]
[V:LH] !5!C, !4!D, !3!E, !2!F, | !1!G, !2!F, !3!E, !4!D, | !5!C,4 |]
Reflex exercises
- Tapping. Hands resting on a table. Someone (or you) calls out a number and a hand: "right 3", "left 5"… Tap the matching finger as quickly as possible. Then both hands together: "2!" and both index fingers tap.
- The mirror. Play the melody above hands together, saying the numbers aloud for the right hand, then for the left hand.
- Pairs. On the table, tap 1-3, 2-4, 3-5, then 1-5. Keep the non-playing fingers resting and relaxed.
Common mistakes:
- Numbering the left hand "backwards" (thumb = 5): no, the thumb is always 1.
- Ignoring written fingerings to "do what feels right": that is how you end up with no finger available three notes later.
Tip: when you learn a new piece, pencil in the fingering at tricky spots on day one, and then stick to it. Finger memory is built on a stable fingering.