Legato Sixths

Hi, I am struggling with a piece in g minor that has a descending patter of 6ths. The top line is Eb, D, C and the bottom line is G,F,Eb. I am currently playing all 6th with fingers 1 and 5. It sounds fine but not very melodic. I tried playing the top line legato with fingers 5,4,3, while the thumb is playing the bottom line. I am having trouble keeping my hand tension free and keep a melodic legato in the top line, especially on the last note when the thumb plays a black key, I find that my hand swivels. I tried rotating the hand instead, so it starts from a slightly suppinated position and slightly pronates as the thumb goes down. It feels awkward and doesn't sound good, the thumb notes become too emphasized, and the top line doesn't have a real legato. I should mention that my hand size is quite average. I can reach a 9th comfortably and can reach a white key 10th with a major stretch, but for some reason the 6th with fingers 1-3 gives me trouble. Do you have any suggested excercises to learn to play good legato with no tension? Should I attempt this fingering or just focus on 5-1 fingering and connect with the pedal? Thank, Zack

In any double notes, if you play either the upper or lower line legato, both will sound legato even though you do not use any pedal. So for instance you could finger the upper line 4 5 5 while you did 1 1 2 on the lower notes. Neither upper or lower voice is completely legato but surprisingly enough you do get a legato sound as a result. Try it! This is also a nice fingering for getting a sense of suppleness in your hand. The trick is to let things be supple without letting them collapse, and this fingering helps because you have to twist your hand in funny ways thus making it loose but you also have to try to get the notes, which keeps things working. A nice combination! AFF

This is also a nice fingering for getting a sense of suppleness in your hand. The trick is to let things be supple without letting them collapse, and this fingering helps because you have to twist your hand in funny ways thus making it loose but you also have to try to get the notes, which keeps things working. It indeed feels better, and I managed to get a nice legato a few times, although it still feels a little awkward - I need to do more slow motion practise. With this new fingering I am forced to do more lateral arm movement then I am used to. I tend to fix the arm in place (probably a subconcious fear of mssing notes and losing orientation of the keyboard location). I tried to apply the same lateral arm movement to the old fingering, after trying to apply this lateral arm movement to the old fingering (1-5, 1-4, 1-3) and it feels much better than before (but I still think I will use your suggested fingering of 1-5,1-4,2-5). Zack

Very cool. The process you describe is a very nice form of learning, where the new kinesthetic impression gained in one experience educates another experience. I like it! I also like you putting your finger on the nature of that subconscious fear - a very insightful comment. AFF