Holy Cow! This is the lesson I've been searching for. If we're extending the pinky for the single bass notes, it makes perfect sense to keep it out of the upper chords. This keeps the left hand stretched out, ready for economy of motion. This also applies to many Chopin Waltzes. Amazing Video!!
1. When there is a single note, rather than an octave (on the down beat), I like to cover the upper octave key with my thumb. So I am making essentially the same movement whether the down beat is a single note or an octave. This helps me find the lower note with my fifth finger without looking, and I only have to practice one movement and my practicing of it covers both possibilities in the music. 2. The fingering of the chord on the upbeat should be whatever is most comfortable for your hand. I do not agree that the fifth finger should be avoided. Fourth finger on F in the (inverted) B flat triad in Swipesy feels contorted to me and looks contorted in your video. Note that your hand is twisted to the outside in order to reach the F with your fourth finger. (Although it might be OK for someone with wider hands and/or longer fingers.) In order to play accurately, you have to arrange your fingers, while your hand is moving, so that they are able to land straight down on top of the correct set of keys. This is harder to do, it you have to stretch and contort your had into some relatively unnatural position. I think the fingering should be whatever would be most natural and comfortable if you were playing only the upbeat chords and not jumping down for the downbeat note or octave. The movement from the downbeat to the upbeat really isn't the most difficult thing about playing ragtime left hand: the most difficult thing is coming down precisely on the right keys for the upbeat chord, with a comfortable hand position, and not bumping into any black keys on the way, so that you play all the notes of the chord evenly and precisely in tempo, like a banjo or guitar player who plays only on the upbeat and keeps the whole band playing steadily in time. So go ahead and use your fifth finger, if the fingering is comfortable and it helps you to find the right pattern of keys with dependable accuracy.
Nice and practical movement of fingers. My fingers are short and I am nearing 70’s, and I still have time to practice the 3 or 4-2-1 exercise. True enough, I played the wrong technique of using my fifth finger( a strong finger for me). My thumb has no problem, it’s always in place( too short to put it off the white key. Ha ha ha ) how ever, my elbows, I played it wide enough to enjoy freedom of body movement. But yes, I will take all your tips in mind. Thanks, this will help me a lot. By the way I am Asian, and anatomically, all is short he he he.
Cool, but if I apply this left hand technique on my piano (which is not as bright as yours), with E flat for Tonic, the chords lands half in the bass register. It makes it sound super muddy. So I prefer making bigger jumps, towards the middle C and it sounds just right. Still, I like your tutorials in general. I'm I doing something wrong here? Thanks!
Holy Cow! This is the lesson I've been searching for.
If we're extending the pinky for the single bass notes, it makes perfect sense to keep it out of the upper chords. This keeps the left hand stretched out, ready for economy of motion.
This also applies to many Chopin Waltzes.
Amazing Video!!
A great lesson❗️
Amazing info, thank you so much
This was very useful. Thank you.
There's people who are able to play ragtime without looking, I wanna learn that
1. When there is a single note, rather than an octave (on the down beat), I like to cover the upper octave key with my thumb. So I am making essentially the same movement whether the down beat is a single note or an octave. This helps me find the lower note with my fifth finger without looking, and I only have to practice one movement and my practicing of it covers both possibilities in the music. 2. The fingering of the chord on the upbeat should be whatever is most comfortable for your hand. I do not agree that the fifth finger should be avoided. Fourth finger on F in the (inverted) B flat triad in Swipesy feels contorted to me and looks contorted in your video. Note that your hand is twisted to the outside in order to reach the F with your fourth finger. (Although it might be OK for someone with wider hands and/or longer fingers.) In order to play accurately, you have to arrange your fingers, while your hand is moving, so that they are able to land straight down on top of the correct set of keys. This is harder to do, it you have to stretch and contort your had into some relatively unnatural position. I think the fingering should be whatever would be most natural and comfortable if you were playing only the upbeat chords and not jumping down for the downbeat note or octave. The movement from the downbeat to the upbeat really isn't the most difficult thing about playing ragtime left hand: the most difficult thing is coming down precisely on the right keys for the upbeat chord, with a comfortable hand position, and not bumping into any black keys on the way, so that you play all the notes of the chord evenly and precisely in tempo, like a banjo or guitar player who plays only on the upbeat and keeps the whole band playing steadily in time. So go ahead and use your fifth finger, if the fingering is comfortable and it helps you to find the right pattern of keys with dependable accuracy.
Very helpful video! Thank you
Thanks a lot
What to do if you are already used to play chords with the fifth finger? I think I have to learn Swipesy again...
Nice and practical movement of fingers. My fingers are short and I am nearing 70’s, and I still have time to practice the 3 or 4-2-1 exercise. True enough, I played the wrong technique of using my fifth finger( a strong finger for me). My thumb has no problem, it’s always in place( too short to put it off the white key. Ha ha ha ) how ever, my elbows, I played it wide enough to enjoy freedom of body movement. But yes, I will take all your tips in mind. Thanks, this will help me a lot. By the way I am Asian, and anatomically, all is short he he he.
Cool, but if I apply this left hand technique on my piano (which is not as bright as yours), with E flat for Tonic, the chords lands half in the bass register. It makes it sound super muddy. So I prefer making bigger jumps, towards the middle C and it sounds just right. Still, I like your tutorials in general. I'm I doing something wrong here? Thanks!
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