Q&A for How to Place Your Fingers Properly on Piano Keys

This depends on what piece or song you are playing. Generally, beginners start in C position, so place the five fingers of the left hand from C to G (pinky on C). Place the thumb of your right hand on a higher C and place the next four fingers on the next four white keys.

There are countless hand positions. As a beginner, you would start in C position.

Generally, the proper technique is to use curved fingers, no tensions, and quick facility.

You can release tension by making sure your arms are firm but relaxed and your shoulders are not tensed but in a relaxed position. This should set your fingers up to be firm but relaxed.

C position is probably the most common - where the thumb on your right hand rests on C and all subsequent fingers are on the four white keys above that. For your left hand, it would be your pinky on the C below middle C with all subsequent fingers resting on the keys above that.

Standard fingerings (that are consistent each time) are a necessity in playing scales since, without them, you will not develop muscle memory and will constantly make errors when playing scales.

Take the 1 octave C major scale as an example. Once you play E in the right hand, you have to cross over. You cross over underneath your third finger. Once you descend, and you are about to play E again, you cross your third finger over your thumb to play the E.

You move your hands. You don't have to keep your hands fixed to the keys they started on.

There isn't an easy way to do it; however, try to remember where your pinky was on the last note of the chord and jumping to the other one. Simply, it takes practice.

The correct hand position for playing the piano is keeping the fingers slightly bent and relaxed when on the keys, and your wrists at the same level as your hands. The position should feel natural and without tension. To check your hand position is correct, try meeting with a piano teacher or watching some YouTube tutorials to find out more.

Find middle C (the key to the left of the set of two black keys), and your right hand will usually start with you thumb there. Your left hand's pinky finger will start usually on the octave lower c, or the eighth key lower than the middle C. If you aren't sure, check a fingering chart or see if there is a number above the note. The number corresponds to the finger used to play it. For example, one is your thumb, two is your index finger, three is your middle finger, and so on.

Chords only have two or three notes when played with one hand, to play one with 4 or 5 it would take two hands.

You would used the same 1-3-5 for all major/minor triads that are not inverted.

I always use the Nike sign as an example: put your thumb first and have all the other fingers follow suite.

Yes. If you don't know the notes properly, it can be off key. Make sure when you are playing the piece following the fingering on the top of the notes. You may have to pick up your hand or tuck a finger under another.

Your song will tell you what key and position your hands will be in. Sometimes they'll be different like A position in your right, and C position in your left. Sometimes they can be next to each other or in the same position.

That all depends on the piece. If, for example, the melody is G A B A G B D E F# G D, then it is wise to start on your thumb. (So 1 2 3 2 1 3 5-2 3 4 5.)

Lifting fingers that are not playing is frowned upon in competitions and exams. If you're just playing for fun, don't bother worrying about lifting your fingers. If you are looking into piano as a career/job (etc..), put all of your fingers on the keys, playing or not (with an exception of jumping and doing a gliss) In practice, take your pieces slowly and work on keeping your fingers on the keys.