This is from Haydn sonata no. 43 in Ab major. Is it just me, or is this absolutely the most awkward key to play in? It's like all the white keys are blocked by black ones! Here's a passage that I'm struggling with. (http://i818.photobucket.com/albums/zz108/mrferguson12/haydn.jpg)
I, the first measure, I'm trying to play the second group of 16th notes with the fingering 123541. Tell me what you guys think.

If you're playing the first 4 notes with 3-2-1-2, then your fingering sounds correct and easy. Just make sure you get the 3rd finger away from the D flat early enough.

With that second group i would play 4 on the high Ab and 5 on the G (it would be just 123452)

I can see that too.

4 on the high Ab helps a lot, thanks
There are some other places that I'm curious about. First of all, is the score suggesting a 4 or 5 on the top Ab here? (http://i818.photobucket.com/albums/zz108/mrferguson12/haydn2-1.jpg).
And I'm also wondering about the right hand fingering here: (http://i818.photobucket.com/albums/zz108/mrferguson12/haydn3.jpg).

3-5-3-5-2 seems to work fine with that first one. If you find that uncomfortable or awkward, 2-4-2-4-1 also works quite well for me.

RH Fingering for that second image:
after the tie - 3-5-2-1, 3-5-1-2 seems to work for me. Let me know if it doesn't for you!

35352 is probably the best option for the first one, I agree. But I was thinking maybe 4521, 3512 for the second image (after the tie). I know this is making use of the weak 4th finger, but the hand shape seems to "fit" better.
Also, back to this passage: http://i818.photobucket.com/albums/zz108/mrferguson12/haydn.jpg
I'm still stuck between 12354, and 12345 (starting at the second group in the first measure). The problem with 12354 is the 35 between the F natural and the Ab--because I have to quickly shift my hand in between the black keys in order to play 5 on Ab. 12345 might be the only solution, even though it's pretty awkward too

One other thing:
When I'm working out a fingering, I try to see which fingering is the most comfortable when I play the notes together as a chord. For example, with this: http://i818.photobucket.com/albums/zz108/mrferguson12/haydn.jpg, I realized that 12354 isn't a good idea because I can't easily play the notes together as a chord with those fingers. Do you guys approach fingerings in a similar way?

I think that method works only sometimes and depends on what notes come before and after the passage you're trying to finger.

I'm wondering if there's something wrong with your technique. Those four notes with 1235 should be perfectly fine for almost any hand. I'm wondering if you're reaching with 5 and the alignment's off or something.

Why is it that the Haydn Sonatas go off like a pack of crackers ...
it's as though Papa H couldn't find enough notes to cram into each measure and doubled up on the tempo for good measure.

Wow ... and the OP is asking for advice on the opening measure!!

I can't answer that question because I have no idea what "going off like a pack of crackers" means. I am currently working on a Haydn Sonata and I don't feel that there is a superfluity of notes, no more so than in Mozart or in early Beethoven.

Regards,

Just as important as the fingering is where your fingers are on the keys.. if you're trying to play literally in between the black notes, and I have seen people do this, then of course you're going to have problems!

mrferguson12: I found that when I'm in a less familiar key signature, I'll play the scale and the arpeggios a few times (until I can run through them pretty effortlessly) before I embark on the actual piece. That way, I get scales practice in and it a familiarizes me with the key signature. I'll often do the corresponding minor (F minor, in this case), just to get used to hitting the flats but in different "run" from the major. It really helps to acclimate my brain and my fingers to the actual piece and for some reason makes fingering feel less awkward.