At the piano
Hand shape and a relaxed wrist
Round hand, soft wrist — and why flat fingers make everything harder.
2 min read
Let your arm hang down by your side and look at your hand. The fingers curve slightly and the palm stays open. That relaxed shape is exactly the one you want on the keys.
The apple
The classic image is holding a small apple: fingers rounded, knuckles up, palm hollow. Play with the fingertips, not the flat pads.
ZC3
XD3
CE3
VF3
BG3
NA3
MB3
AC4
SD4
DE4
FF4
GG4
HA4
JB4
KC5
Q
2
4
5
6
W
E
T
Y
U
One finger per key, hand round — thumb on C, little finger on G.
What to avoid
- A collapsed wrist hanging below the keys, or pushed up high above them.
- Flat, straight fingers — they lose control and tire quickly.
- A raised shoulder. If it creeps up, stop and shake the arm out.
Tip: Tension shows up first in the wrist. Every few minutes, let your hands fall into your lap for a second and start again.