Hi,

I have a question about playing in between the black notes when playing scales. I would really like and appreciate your opinions on this from your own playing experience.

When I play scales, I usually avoid playing between the black keys. Maybe it`s a habit that is counterproductive. Now, my fingers can fit in between the black keys (I think I have average sized hands) ; though sometimes the widest finger, the ring finger, slightly rubs against the black notes.

I was instructed the other day that instead of trying to avoid playing between the black keys, especially in major or minor scales that have a lot of black notes, it would be much better to play in between the black keys, or close to the black keys. To avoid too many front to back shifts.

I was told that in major scales like C, F, G and their minor scales it may indeed be a good idea to avoid playing between the blacks, but in scales with more sharped/flatted notes it would probably be better to play between the black keys if your fingers can fit in there. What do you think of this advice? Or would you avoid as much as possible playing in between the blacks in any scale..regardless of hand size?

Also, have a related question dealing with front to back shifts, and that deals with the little finger, the 5th finger. I`ve heard a lot of varying opinions on whether or not the use of the little finger on a black key in a piece of music should be avoided...in the same way many pianists would normally avoid using the thumb on a black key. What is your opinion of the use of the 5th finger on a black key? I`m just curious about opinions here, and I know that there may not necessarily be a right or wrong to this.

I know that many would use the little finger, as they would the thumb, in a chord, broken chord, or sometimes octaves. But would you avoid the use of the little finger when playing let`s say a sharped note in a DESCENDING scale fragment like for example in this exercise which is to be played over and over..this is played in the upper register of the piano with the right hand...descends from G# and ends on D:

D,E,F,G,G#
1,2,3,4,5

In this situation, you could play the G with the 5th finger, and then play the other notes. But alas, when you play in the upper registers as opposed to playing in the center of the piano, it become more difficult to use the 5th finger on a sharped note. So in this case, using the 5th on G# would raise the hand towards the fallboard, lifting many of the other notes between the black keys. This may not be desirable considering that the rest of the notes are on the white keys. So what would you do personally? Use another stronger finger on the sharped note (though you`ll now have to use a finger crossing to round out the fragment) or you`d just play it with the 5th on the sharped note?

thanks

Got an idea! Y don`t you just buy an electronic keyboard, then set your key to any major or minor scales. For example, if you got a sheet music which contains 2 flats( Bb major), simply transpose it into C major key. Set your keyboard to Bb major scale, then play it according the tranposed sheet. It will sound like what a Bb major key and hence, of cuz it reduces the chances of touching the black keys. Althought some parts you still have to touch the black keys.

Umm...That is called cheating and no serious pianist does that.

I find it just as easy to play black keys as it is to play white keys. On scales like C#M I would use the thumb to play the white keys (231234123123412etc). I can do it without moving my hand up and down. In situations like G A B C C#, I would avoid using the 5 finger for C# and use 23454.

I have average sized fingers. I find it difficult to play between black keys, especially in fast chromatic things like Bumblebee.

I use the 1 finger and 5 finger for black keys if I have no other choice, this passage in Bach`s Partita 2 Sinfonia:
Bb Ab G F Eb Bb F Eb Db Bb Eb Db C
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 1
I have read in a book that you shouln`t play black keys with your 1 finger or your 5 finger in Baroque music, but there is no other option in this situation.

There are some times where it`s easier to play in between the black keys:
Start at D3 and D5 both hands at 5 finger, contrary motion chromatic scale towards D4 and meet at D4. 5432154321432 for both hands.

thanks for the informative replies