The PROBLEM FINGER in Piano Playing

[@LivingPianosVideos]

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[@carriecooley5274]

Perfect and helpful lesson. I’m blessed to have a fantastic teacher in our small town and she showed me this technique a few years ago on Schubert’s Gflat Impromptu. Worked like a charm.

[@pureblood101]

Tye tension that can build up in the mind and body also when trying to play with the four and fifth as well as the frustration can be a big hurdle to overcome!

[@robertdyson4216]

Dear Robert, You are a cheery start to my day. The fingers are not independent, we have to work round that. Of course practise helps us work out how to make the best of it. The point about note release is very important.

[@deanmorton1494]

Very helpful, thank you. I had heard you mention exaggerated finger movement in another video and found that it helps very much but this gives more context. Having been preached at about "economy of motion" on many occasions it took a leap of faith to try exaggerating any movement but this has been very beneficial, particularly in Bach.

[@GGMann-qh4ui]

Thank you Robert. Great lesson, beautifully presented.

[@jerryhillman4302]

Learning to trill with the fourth and fifth fingers is a challenge. My teachers is giving me exercises to target both of those fingers.

[@PiotrBarcz]

The 4th finger is such a pain man xD Linked with tendons to the fingers next to it, put in an unfavorable position, long enough to get in the way but not long enough to be comfortable to use for the starting out pianist!

[@PianoRevisited]

Excellent topic Robert. I found, like a lot of things involving playing the piano, it takes consistent practice over time to develop a strong and useful 4th and 5th fingers. I just noticed one day after several years of consistent practice that " all of a sudden" my 4th and 5th fingers became much more "useful". Once that occurred it made playing various arpeggios and runs so much easier. It's almost like two " weapons " were added to my skill set and because of that difficult passages become much easier. It is definitely worth the practice to get there.

[@mfurman]

Very interesting episode (mini lesson). Thank you!

[@Vivaldilover]

Thank you, again, Robert for great information !!!!!!

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

Great advice. Merci beaucoup.

[@GTB311]

Excellent advice and demonstrations. Thank you, Robert. Could you do a vid on managing different articulations in the same hand? I am currently learning the C minor P&F from Book 1 and the fugue has a pesky moment in mm. 13-14 where the subject appears in the alto. Eschewing the uninteresting (and unchallenging) all-staccato approach, I shape the subject with the first three notes legato, the next two tenuto for the first three utterances, and the last six notes all legato, and so on throughout the piece. There are other instances in the fugue as well where one must play a lower voice detached and an upper voice legato (or vice-versa) but those occur in episodes. I rely a lot on finger substitution! Thank you and best regards from Jersey City, George.

[@rot_10_dogs]

Great lesson!

[@kittyfruitloop8264]

Excellent! I've wondered how I can get more control with my fourth finger! It's amazing how hard it is to lift it up independently. Also, my pinky fingers need reining in, any tips or exercises? Mine tend to kick high and extend uncontrollably between notes. I've reined it in considerably since I've focused on it, but it still doesn't look neat especially when I review video of my hands playing. I am mostly self taught and have been playing now for eleven years. Organ playing has helped too, bc you have to keep fingers in smooth contact with keys in order to play legato bc there is no sustaining pedal. Finger substitution drills (necessary in organ) helped too.

[@marshac1479]

My little finger likes to stick up!!

[@ST52655]

Mine, too

[@aliceloke2679]

Hi Robert ! Its not only the 4th finger... I have a problem with my left pinkie, especially when playing an upper arpeggio to a lower one! Either it lands on the key and no sound or too loud. Could you please give some advice ? Example : Moving from bar 2 to bar 3 (Ballade pour Adeline). Cheers from Australia!

[@danaroland9971]

That's right the 4th finger is a big issue for every pianist I guess .

[@velcroman11]

What was the name of the piece you where using to demonstrate finger strength and finger weight?

[@rjd3wine]

Beethoven Piano Sonata, "Pathetique" 2nd movement: Adagio cantabile.

[@PiotrBarcz]

Oh god what is that thumbnail 💀Might want to just use stock photos at this point

[@EuphonicResearchProject]

Generative AI is like clip art from the 90s.

[@PiotrBarcz]

@@EuphonicResearchProject Yup XD