Practise key signatures

Posture and hands

Sitting at the piano

Sit on the front half of the bench, back straight but relaxed. Elbows level with the keys or slightly above — adjust the seat height if needed. Feet flat on the floor.

Your distance is right when your outstretched fists reach the fallboard: the elbows get room to move.

Hand shape

Imagine holding an apple: fingers rounded, wrist loose and level with the forearm. Press the key with the fingertip pad, not a flat finger.

Fingers are numbered from thumb to pinky: 1 — thumb, 2 — index, 3 — middle, 4 — ring, 5 — pinky. These numbers — the fingering — are printed under the notes.

Check yourself

1. Which finger is number 1?
2. What part of the finger presses the key?

Practice it

Try free play — just press some keys