Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Adult Beginners Forum Playing black keys with my thumbs?

Here's another beginner question:

Since thumbs are shorter than fingers I have more difficulty playing black keys with my thumbs, particularly when I am playing white keys at the same time. It seems like I can either cock my hand to the side, which brings the black key under my thumb (while moving the fingers on white out of position) or push my hand forward so that the black key is under my thumb (but now I'm playing white keys in the narrow space between black keys).

I've looked at older threads that discuss whether thumbs should ever be used on black keys, but I've decided that I want to make use of all the digits I have, so I resist the temptation to replace thumb with finger on the black keys.

Any advice for the best way to handle this?

Thanks.

I had the same question for my instructor. He said to play it however it is comfortable. Resist cocking your hand to the point where it hurts and it is fine to play the white keys near the back between the black keys. I got used to it that way.

I'm sure more experienced players here will be able to answer better.

I agree with Dru on this. My teacher has me play the white keys further up so that if I'm using a thumb on a black key I don't have to contort my wrist at all.

At first this was difficult to do because there is less space when playing the white keys in between the black keys (and also my fingers are somewhat fat!) but after a few months of practice I no longer notice that it is difficult and it feels much nicer than trying to twist your wrist into uncomfortable positions.

Isn't there a general bit of advice that you avoid using your thumb and pinky on black keys, but sometimes when you have to, you do?

Bach and Mozart were fine with the thumb on black notes. I'm forever changing given fingerings for students done by those who either don't care or don't know. Obviously you do what you want though!

I simply can't fit most of my fingers between the black keys without playing all three, so I have to re-finger or even re-arrange to make something workable. I do use the thumb on black keys sometimes, often it's when doing a slide-off to an adjacent white key.

Well timed, I am wondering exactly that with my new favorite mourning piece. In the main verse, measures 3&4, I believe the 'C flat' is a natural B and play it almost at the top of the key and feel a torque on my hand.

And to think a couple months ago I grumbled that a piece that had a paltry five flats.