Piano Fingerings Database

PRICE | Waltz of the Spring Maid: mm. 73–76

“Sharing the tenor voice between the thumbs in this way allows it continue without break, even while changing the pedal with each bass note.”

Submitted by Michael Clark

Published on 1/6/2024

Solo PianoMichael ClarkJuly 24, 2017Florence Price, Waltz of the Spring Maid, Michael Clark, redistribution, avoid stretch, facilitate leap, improve legato, Share Middle Voice Between HandsComment

PRICE | Waltz of the Spring Maid: mm.

“Playing the tenor F with the right-hand thumb allows the line to continue without break, even as I change the pedal with the grace note in the bass.”

Submitted by Michael Clark

Published on 1/6/2024

Solo PianoMichael ClarkJuly 24, 2017Florence Price, Waltz of the Spring Maid, Michael Clark, redistribution, facilitate clearer pedaling, Share Middle Voice Between Hands, avoid stretch, improve legato, facilitate leapComment

PRICE | Cabin Capers: mm. 63–64

“The left hand can assist to avoid awkward crossings.”

Submitted by Michael Clark

Published on 9/1/2023

Solo PianoMichael ClarkJuly 20, 2017Florence Price, Cabin Capers, Michael Clark, redistribution, avoid finger crossing, divide more evenly between handsComment

PRICE | Swing Low, Sweet Chariot: mm. 13–14

“Taking the alto voice in the left hand allows better control of the sound of the melody.”

Submitted by Michael Clark

Published on 9/2/2023

Solo PianoMichael ClarkJuly 19, 2017Florence Price, Swing Low Sweet Chariot, Negro Spirituals Arranged for Piano, Michael Clark, redistribution, isolate melodyComment

PRICE | Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?: mm. 8–10

“Taking this alto note in the left hand allows the right hand to better align behind the melody notes, promoting a more singing tone.”

Submitted by Michael Clark

Published on 9/2/2023

Solo PianoMichael ClarkJuly 19, 2017Florence Price, Were You There, Negro Spirituals Arranged for Piano, Michael Clark, redistribution, improve voicing, use stronger fingersComment

PRICE | Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?: mm. 22–23

“Splitting these inner voices between the hands allows facilitates smoother legato.”

Submitted by Michael Clark

Published on 9/2/2023

Solo PianoMichael ClarkJuly 19, 2017Florence Price, Were You There, Negro Spirituals Arranged for Piano, Michael Clark, redistribution, divide more evenly between hands, improve legatoComment

PRICE | Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?: mm. 31–33

“The alto C is within easy reach of the left hand, allowing the melody to be isolated for greater control of voicing.”

Submitted by Michael Clark

Published on 9/2/2023

Solo PianoMichael ClarkJuly 19, 2017Florence Price, Were You There, Negro Spirituals Arranged for Piano, Michael Clark, redistribution, isolate melody, improve voicingComment

PRICE | Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?: mm. 40–42

“I take the lower C silently with my right hand thumb to faciliate a legato fingering for the G-A-G.”

Submitted by Michael Clark

Published on 9/2/2023

Solo PianoMichael ClarkJuly 19, 2017Florence Price, Were You There, Negro Spirituals Arranged for Piano, Michael Clark, redistribution, Silent hand transfer, improve legato, facilitate clearer pedalingComment

PRICE | Joshua Fit de Battle of Jericho: mm. 21–22

“The left hand can quite comfortably finish its scale on D, allowing the right hand to use a better fingering for the repeated note.”

Submitted by Michael Clark

Published on 9/5/2023

Solo PianoMichael ClarkJuly 19, 2017Florence Price, Joshua Fit de Battle of Jericho, Negro Spirituals Arranged for Piano, Michael Clark, redistribution, use stronger fingers, repeated notesComment

PRICE | Rainbow Waltz: mm. 95–100

“I play the top note of the widely spaced chords with my right-hand thumb. I prefer to have all the notes sound simultaneously at this quick tempo.”

Submitted by Michael Clark

Published on 5/3/2023

Solo PianoMichael ClarkJuly 18, 2017Florence Price, Rainbow Waltz, Michael Clark, redistribution, avoid roll, avoid stretchComment

PRICE | Rainbow Waltz: mm. 55–56

“If I play the F with my right hand, I can sustain it for the entire measure, allowing me to change the pedal on beat three.”

Submitted by Michael Clark

Published on 9/5/2023

Solo PianoMichael ClarkJuly 18, 2017Florence Price, Rainbow Waltz, Michael Clark, redistribution, facilitate clearer pedalingComment

PRICE | Fantasie Nègre No. 2 in G Minor: mm. 11–13

“I prefer to keep nearly all the triplets in the left hand for better projection and legato in the right-hand melody.”

Submitted by Michael Clark

Published on 9/7/2023

Solo PianoMichael ClarkJuly 17, 2017Florence Price, Fantasie Nègre No. 2 in G Minor, Michael Clark, redistribution, isolate melody, improve voicing, improve legatoComment

PRICE | Fantasie Nègre No. 2 in G Minor: mm. 27–32

“I find this distribution of the inner voice to be the most effective in maintain legato and sustaining the bass note where appropriate.”

Submitted by Michael Clark

Published on 9/7/2023

Solo PianoMichael ClarkJuly 17, 2017Florence Price, Fantasie Nègre No. 2 in G Minor, Michael Clark, redistribution, sustain bass note, Share Middle Voice Between Hands, improve legatoComment

PRICE | Fantasie Nègre No. 2 in G Minor: mm. 43–46

“Taking the lower octave with the left hand allows the right hand to use a stronger and more legato fingering for the melody line.”

Submitted by Michael Clark

Published on 9/7/2023

Solo PianoMichael ClarkJuly 17, 2017Florence Price, Fantasie Nègre No. 2 in G Minor, Michael Clark, redistribution, improve legato, use stronger fingersComment

PRICE | Fantasie Nègre No. 2 in G Minor: mm. 54–57

Red = RH
Blue = LH

“I cross the left hand over the right in both m. 54 and m. 57, partly to reduce position shifts in the right hand and partly because it looks nice.”

Submitted by Michael Clark

Published on 9/7/2023

Solo PianoMichael ClarkJuly 17, 2017Florence Price, Fantasie Nègre No. 2 in G Minor, Michael Clark, redistribution, hand crossing, reduce position shifts, choreographyComment

PRICE | Fantasie Nègre No. 2 in G Minor: mm. 64–67

“Taking the lower voice of the some of the octaves in the left hand can improve accuracy and legato. Redividing the texture in m. 66 also alleviates the stretched position in the right hand.”

Submitted by Michael Clark

Published on 9/8/2023