avoid finger crossing — Piano Fingerings Database

ARGENTO | Six Elizabethan Songs: III. Winter: mm. 29–33

Piano Fingerings for Six Elizabethan Songs (Winter) by Dominick Argento

“Taking the first note in the left hand allows the right hand to stay in a more compact position. This provides a more secure start in the fortissimo dynamic even though the position can’t be maintained in subsequent measures.”

Submitted by Michael Clark

Published on 3/16/2020

Michael ClarkMay 17, 2020Dominick Argento, Six Elizabethan Songs, Michael Clark, art song, avoid finger crossing, redistribution, two-hand startComment

BACH | Partita No. 1 in B-flat Major, BWV 825: Allemande: mm. 22–23

Piano fingerings for Partita No. 1 in B-flat Major by J.S. Bach

“This redistribution helps the right hand avoid changing positions or crossing over with 2.”

Submitted by Michael Clark

Published on 1/27/2020

Solo PianoMichael ClarkApril 27, 2020Johann Sebastian Bach, Partita No. 1 in B-flat Major, Michael Clark, awkward passagework, redistribution, reduce position shifts, avoid finger crossingComment

BARBER | Hermit Songs: III. St. Ita's Vision: mm. 30–31

“Splitting between hands like this allows the rolled notes to played much more fluidly and in a faster motion.”

Submitted by Wade Troyer

Published on 9/1/2023

Art SongMichael ClarkFebruary 18, 2020Samuel Barber, Hermit Songs, Wade Troyer, redistribution, hand crossing, avoid finger crossingComment

BARTÓK | Suite, Op. 14: III. 82–84

Piano fingerings for Suite, Op. 14, by Béla Bartók

“Using the right to launch this pattern avoids starting with the left-hand crossing over finger 2 which I finding unnecessarily awkward.”

Submitted by Michael Clark

Published on 1/1/2020

Solo PianoMichael ClarkDecember 26, 2019Béla Bartók, Suite (Op. 14), Michael Clark, redistribution, avoid finger crossing, two-hand start

BEETHOVEN | Sonata in F Minor, Op. 57: II. mm. 52–53

Piano fingerings for Sonata in F Minor, Op. 57 ("Appassionata"), by Ludwig van Beethoven

“Taking these two notes in the right hand eliminates this awkward fingering challenge.”

Submitted by Michael Clark with thanks to Robert Roux

Published on 1/1/2020

Solo PianoMichael ClarkOctober 11, 2019Ludwig van Beethoven, Michael Clark, awkward passagework, redistribution, Piano Sonata in F Minor (Op. 57), avoid finger crossing

BRAHMS | Sonata in D Minor for Piano and Violin, Op. 108: I. 208–13

Piano fingerings for Violin Sonata No. 3 in D Minor, Op. 108, by Johannes Brahms

“This distribution divides the triplets more evenly between the hands, eliminating finger crossing where possible.”

Submitted by Michael Clark

Published on 1/1/2020

Chamber MusicMichael ClarkAugust 7, 2019Johannes Brahms, Violin Sonata (Op. 108), Michael Clark, avoid finger crossing, wide arpeggio, redistribution

BRAHMS | Sonata in F Minor for Clarinet and Piano, Op. 120, No. 1: II. 49–52

Piano fingerings for Sonata for Clarinet and Piano in F Minor, Op. 120, No. 1, by Johannes Brahms

“This redistribution allows the tied notes to be held without crossing over the thumb or finger substitutions.”

Submitted by Michael Clark

Published on 1/1/2020

Chamber MusicMichael ClarkAugust 2, 2019Johannes Brahms, Clarinet Sonata in F Minor (Op. 120/1), Michael Clark, hand crossing, redistribution, facilitate tie, avoid finger crossing

BRAHMS | Sonata in F Minor for Clarinet and Piano, Op. 120, No. 1: IV. 15–16

“I find it easier to take the last notes of these wide arpeggios in the right hand.”

Submitted by Michael Clark

Published on 1/1/2020

Chamber MusicMichael ClarkAugust 2, 2019Johannes Brahms, Clarinet Sonata in F Minor (Op. 120/1), Michael Clark, redistribution, wide arpeggio, avoid finger crossing

CHOPIN | Sonata for Cello and Piano in G Minor, Op. 65: III. m. 27

Piano fingerings for Cello Sonata in G Minor, Op. 65, by Frédéric Chopin

“This fingering minimizes position shifts and looks nice.”

Submitted by Michael Clark

Published on 1/1/2020

Chamber MusicMichael ClarkJune 2, 2019Frédéric Chopin, Cello Sonata (Op. 65), Michael Clark, hand crossing, redistribution, avoid finger crossing, choreography

CHOPIN | Sonata for Cello and Piano in G Minor, Op. 65: IV. mm. 98–99

“The left hand accompaniment is already plenty wide. I find taking an extra note in the right hand is a relief.”

Submitted by Michael Clark

Published on 1/1/2020

Chamber MusicMichael ClarkJune 2, 2019Frédéric Chopin, Cello Sonata (Op. 65), Michael Clark, wide accompaniment pattern, redistribution, avoid finger crossing

FAURÉ | Valse-Caprice No. 1 in A Major, Op. 30: mm. 169–76

Piano fingerings for Valse-Caprice No. 1 in A Major by Gabriel Fauré

Submitted by John Patrick Murphy

Published on 12/30/2020

Solo PianoMichael ClarkJanuary 20, 2019Gabriel Fauré, Valse-Caprice No. 1, John Patrick Murphy, redistribution, arpeggios, uncross, avoid crowding, reduce position shifts, avoid finger crossingComment

GINASTERA | Piano Sonata No. 1, Op. 22: I. mm. 70–73

Piano fingerings for Piano Sonata No. 1, Op. 22, by Alberto Ginastera

“The left hand is resting—no need to leap in the right hand for the F-sharp.”

Submitted by Michael Clark

Published on 3/13/2020

Solo PianoMichael ClarkOctober 13, 2018Alberto Ginastera, Piano Sonata No. 1 (Op. 22), Michael Clark, avoid finger crossing, redistribution, facilitate leap, two-hand startComment

GRANADOS | Allegro de Concierto, Op. 46: mm. 63–64

Piano fingerings for Allegro de Concierto, Op. 46, by Enrique Granados

Submitted by Josh Condon

Published on 6/15/2020

Solo PianoMichael ClarkSeptember 4, 2018Enrique Granados, Allegro de Concierto (Op. 46), Josh Condon, redistribution, avoid stretch, avoid finger crossing, reduce position shiftsComment

LISZT | Sonetto 104 del Petrarca: mm. 9–10

Piano fingerings for Sonetto 104 del Petrarca by Franz Liszt

“The top note of this especially wide chord can be played with the right hand.”

Submitted by Michael Clark with thanks to Jennifer Hayghe

Published on 1/1/2020

Solo PianoMichael ClarkFebruary 25, 2018Franz Liszt, Sonetto 104 del Petrarca, Michael Clark, split large chord, wide accompaniment pattern, redistribution, avoid finger crossingComment

WAGNER/LISZT | Isolde's Liebestod: mm. 81–83

Piano fingerings for Franz Liszt’s transcription of Isolde’s Liebestod by Richard Wagner

“Taking the D-sharp in the right hand prevents the left hand having to cross over for one note, which I prefer to avoid when possible.”

Submitted by Michael Clark

Published on 1/1/2020

Solo PianoMichael ClarkFebruary 6, 2018Franz Liszt, Isolde's Liebestod, Michael Clark, avoid finger crossing, redistributionComment

MENDELSSOHN | Rondo capriccioso, Op. 14: mm. 170–71

“I find taking this note with the left hand thumb slightly easier than crossing over with right-hand 2.”

Submitted by Michael Clark

Published on 2/15/2020

Solo PianoMichael ClarkDecember 15, 2017Felix Mendelssohn, Rondo capriccioso (Op. 14), Michael Clark, avoid finger crossing, double thumb, redistributionComment

POULENC | Sextet, FP 100: III. mm. 27–30

Piano fingerings for Sextet for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, and Piano , FP. 100, by Francis Poulenc

“Taking the lowest note of this run in the left hand eliminates a position shift in the right hand and gives it a momentary break.”

Submitted by Michael Clark

Published on 4/4/2020

Chamber MusicMichael ClarkAugust 5, 2017Francis Poulenc, Sextet (FP 100), Michael Clark, break up running passage, redistribution, reduce position shifts, avoid finger crossingComment

POULENC | Sextet, FP 100: III. mm. 61–62

“This fingering is designed to eliminate unnecessary positions shifts and divide the notes between the hands as evenly as possible.”

Submitted by Michael Clark

Published on 1/6/2020

Chamber MusicMichael ClarkAugust 5, 2017Francis Poulenc, Sextet (FP 100), Michael Clark, reduce position shifts, redistribution, divide more evenly between hands, avoid finger crossingComment