At the piano
Why fingering matters
The numbers above the notes are not a suggestion — they are what makes the next note reachable.
3 min read
Fingers are numbered 1 to 5 in both hands, thumb to little finger. Lessons here show a number for each note, and it is worth following even when another finger would also reach.
Why not just use any finger?
- Good fingering leaves the right finger free for the note after that one.
- It keeps the hand in one shape instead of jumping around.
- It makes the passage repeatable — the same movement every time, which is what practice builds.
Bad fingering usually works for the first note and traps you on the third. That is why it feels fine until it suddenly does not.
Try the five-finger position →Tip: If a passage keeps failing in the same spot, look at the fingering before you blame the fingers.