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Hello. Long time lurker, first time poster.

I'm learning Schubert's Hungarian Melody right now, and it's almost entirely within my grasp, technically speaking. But I'm having trouble with one part that seems like it should be easy.

Here's the score on IMSLP

It's the descending thirds with the right hand on bars 6 and 10 that get me. Right now I'm playing them both 42-13-42-13, but it's not working out too well. Any alternate fingering suggestions? Or techniques that could help?

I would use 53 - 42 - 31 - 21.

There are many ways of creating a legato effect. Connect the top notes here, and don't worry about using the thumb twice on the lower note.


-J

try this :

Measure 6 :

Play the first interval (F-sharp / D) with 4/2-1 (shifting from 1 to 2 on the D, then:
G/E = 5/2
F-sharp/D = 3/1
E/C-sharp = 4/2
D/B = 3/1
ending with 5/2 on the F-sharp/C-sharp of the next measure

Measure 10 :

F-sharp/D = 5/1
E/C-sharp = 4/2
D/B = 5/1
C-sharp/A = 4/2
B/G = 3/1
ending with 4/2 on A/F-sharp of the next measure.

Does that work for you?

Regards,

+1

I think I would use this also but might not change fingers on the D. For reasons I don't understand, 2-5, 1-3 feels more solid than 3-5,2-4 on the first two thirds.

I think that might make the most sense. I'll try it a couple hundred times and find out! Thanks

Having just recently learned Chopin's Op.25 No.6 Etude, I can say that if your hands are relaxed and flexible, just about any fingering can be played legato. All the suggestions here would work provided you practice them a few times.

I will add though, that your fingering of 42-31-42-31 can also be played legato, I tried it myself just now. Of course if you're not used to playing thirds it may feel awkward to hold down the D/F# with fingers 31 while you cross over the 42 fingers towards the C#/E.

It's true what you say. What I was finding is that 42-31-42-31 feels right on its own and is easy to play smoothly in isolation (and it's what you'd use if you were playing a scale, no doubt), but it doesn't flow as well in the full context of the passage. That said, I'm also not working at a very high level of technical skill. But I have been impressed by how often not-obvious fingerings make things work.

I've always used (starting on c/a) 5/1-4/2-3/1-4/2-3/1-5/1-4/2-5/1-4/2-3/1-5/1-4/2-5/1 etc.