<p>I started playing the piano but I freaking can't get my fourth finger to go as high I want for ff notes, is there a way I can improve this cuz it sucks :(</p>
<p>I’m not sure what you mean by “ff notes”.</p>
<p>Do you mean that you just can’t physically reach the higher notes because you have small fingers/hands? If so, the only thing I can really suggest is to keep practicing. With practice, you may be able to reach farther… but at the same time, genetics will limit how far you can go.</p>
<p>Your fourth finger is your weakest finger. Do not try to force it to do anything (remember the story of Robert Schumann?) Try an alternate fingering or back off the rest of the dynamics to make that note sound louder.</p>
<p>ff notes, as in louder notes</p>
<p>Another suggestion: Instead of striking the keys with your fingers, try a pull stroke (like you’re trying to pull the keys off the keyboard.) Your fourth finger has more pulling than pushing strength.</p>
<p>OR </p>
<p>Use the weight of your arm by slightly lifting your arm before coming down on the keys. </p>
<p>Remember: fortissimo (ff) is NOT the loudest dynamic. Composers use fff and ffff upon occasion. Adjust accordingly.</p>
<p>By the way, the story of Robert Schumann: Schumann was a Romantic (19th Century) composer who started out wanting to be a concert pianist. He, too, was dismayed that his fourth finger was weak. He stuck his hand in a contraption “designed” to strengthen the weak fingers by lifting the other fingers off the keyboard while the weak fingers remained free. Bottom line: Schumann permanently ruined his hand (fourth finger) and ended up composing music instead. Don’t try to force your fingers to do what they were not designed to do. Instead, work with the design of the hand.</p>
<p>you guys are so helpful. Thank you so much, I’ve just started playing so hopefully I can develop better technique over time. Btw would you recommend putting a pencil between the fingers to play the major chords better?</p>
<p>No, no. no. You will ruin the musculature of your hand. All you need to do is practice slowly every day. Give your brain a chance to learn what it is you want it to learn. Once your brain understands what you want your hand to do, it will train your hand. Speed will come with familiarity of the piece. </p>
<p>Never, never, never use contraptions or tools. You could permanently damage your hand.</p>
<p>I would agree with the two suggestions about practicing.</p>
<p>I remember several years ago when Vanessa Carlton first came out and I was obsessed with learning all of her songs (Lame, yes. Don’t laugh.)
But there were several songs which required a bit of reaching. Playing slow helped until I could eventually reach the keys without trying.</p>
<p>I probably should have said I was obsessed with Chopin or something.</p>
<p>Keep practicing. You’re not going to be able to do everything a pianist does immediately after playing. Your fingers have to gain strength. Practice a little every day and you’ll see that striking the keys becomes easier.</p>
<p>I’ve been the piano for 14 years and I still have some trouble with my fourth fingers. They always slow me down when I have a set tempo, they sometimes fumble over themselves, and they are usually never as loud as my other fingers. But with practicing, I get all of those kinks out, so practice, practice, practice!</p>
<p>(There are also some finger strengthening exercises specifically for piano players that you can probably just google).</p>
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<p>lilygraces - </p>
<p>Try pulling the keys instead of striking the keys. You’ll obtain a smooth, controlled technique this way. Plus, all the fingers will be strengthened. Try playing a one octave scale by dropping the first (right hand) and fifth (left hand) fingers on the tonic then pulling at the keys as you run up the keyboard. Drop again at the top of the scale as you turn around to run back down the octave. Once this feels comfortable, go for two octaves before you drop at the top, then three octaves, then four. </p>
<p>Note: To drop on a note simply let the weight of the hand drop into the keyboard. The wrist should break and drop slightly below the keyboard. As you pull with each finger, your wrist should raise slightly with each pull. You will know you are doing it right if you feel the muscle on the underside of your forearm working instead of the muscle on top of the forearm. You will feel the forearm muscle relax when you drop on the first and last notes of the scale. </p>
<p>The pull and drop technique will get you through long piano concerti with no hand/arm fatigue. :)</p>
<p>lol wow really.</p>