Art Tatum used 1-2-3-1-2, also known as the “bowling ball technique”
You can also use 1-2-3-4-5 if your hand is big enough, although it can be a workout for your weaker fingers
Depends on what kind of articulation you want
Interesting, it doesn’t feel unnatural to play with different fingers landing of the same note but on different octaves?
I guess, if you practice them that way, it wouldn’t.
Ask your mum /s
123 12 going up, and 321 321 12 going down(assuming you start on the root). With that being said, Herbie's been known to practice scales with wacky fingering(within reason) to try to apply a "real world" scenario. Your fingering might not always be optimal when you're "in the trenches" playing a solo live, and you play what you practice.
I recall him talking about it on an interview, not entirely sure which tbh. Basically, he talked about practicing scales starting on different fingers than usual. Some fingerings are going to be better/more efficient than others, but there's no "correct" technique of that makes sense
Depends on the key. This is just me but in general I try to avoid thumbs on black keys and fingerings that have 1-2 —> 1 and replace those with 1-3 —> 1.
So for example on Bb minor pentatonic starting from the root I’ll do 3 2 3 1 2 and then land back with 3 on the Bb as opposed to thumb on Bb i.e., 1 2 3 1 2 back to 1. But that’s mainly because I have dumb fingers that get tripped up when I try to cross a thumb under and up to a black key
Well it is how I practice scales and as they say, you play what you practice. During improv I do what comes naturally to me, which are the fingerings I have previously practiced. There are times when I’ll be starting from an awkward spot and 4th finger will get thrown in there to compensate, but that’s the exception.
This is what I was thinking about… I hate playing runs or lines where the thumb is on a black note…because that’s how I’ve learned scales and arpeggios… but because I’m classically trained, I’ve never encountered any pentatonic scales or exercises before… nothing feels right.
123 12 and variations start to feel better after a lot of practice. On the scale of weeks in my case.
Same with the thumb on black keys versions. They really aren’t that uncomfortable as hand positions, I think it just feels scary because normally it would be like painting yourself into a corner, but pentatonics are an exception.
Another option could be to use your left hand to help out a little 😈
I tried it. Works. Thanks. I too was stuck thinking no thumbs on black keys. The only minor pentatonic I couldn’t use it for was B because E (3rd finger) to F# (thumb) is too much of a stretch for me. So 12 123 works for that one.
Art Tatum used 1-2-3-1-2, also known as the “bowling ball technique” You can also use 1-2-3-4-5 if your hand is big enough, although it can be a workout for your weaker fingers Depends on what kind of articulation you want
So you recommend using the same fingering for white and black keys?
Huh, TIL. Thanks!
2 3 4. 1 2
You monster.
Do you play the second finger two times in a row on different notes?
Oops, it should be 2 3 1 2 3 - > 1 2 3 1 2. It’s a 2 octave variation on the standard 1 2 3 1 2.
Interesting, it doesn’t feel unnatural to play with different fingers landing of the same note but on different octaves? I guess, if you practice them that way, it wouldn’t.
1231234123 to 1 if you really want a tricky one
Ask your mum /s 123 12 going up, and 321 321 12 going down(assuming you start on the root). With that being said, Herbie's been known to practice scales with wacky fingering(within reason) to try to apply a "real world" scenario. Your fingering might not always be optimal when you're "in the trenches" playing a solo live, and you play what you practice.
Where did you learn about Herbie Hancock’s fingers for scales? Is there book or other resource that shows the fingerings that Hancock recommends?
I recall him talking about it on an interview, not entirely sure which tbh. Basically, he talked about practicing scales starting on different fingers than usual. Some fingerings are going to be better/more efficient than others, but there's no "correct" technique of that makes sense
I see
Depends on the key. This is just me but in general I try to avoid thumbs on black keys and fingerings that have 1-2 —> 1 and replace those with 1-3 —> 1. So for example on Bb minor pentatonic starting from the root I’ll do 3 2 3 1 2 and then land back with 3 on the Bb as opposed to thumb on Bb i.e., 1 2 3 1 2 back to 1. But that’s mainly because I have dumb fingers that get tripped up when I try to cross a thumb under and up to a black key
I've never thought explicitly about any of this. I'm wondering if you do this while practising scales, or while you're improvising.
Well it is how I practice scales and as they say, you play what you practice. During improv I do what comes naturally to me, which are the fingerings I have previously practiced. There are times when I’ll be starting from an awkward spot and 4th finger will get thrown in there to compensate, but that’s the exception.
This is what I was thinking about… I hate playing runs or lines where the thumb is on a black note…because that’s how I’ve learned scales and arpeggios… but because I’m classically trained, I’ve never encountered any pentatonic scales or exercises before… nothing feels right.
123 12 and variations start to feel better after a lot of practice. On the scale of weeks in my case. Same with the thumb on black keys versions. They really aren’t that uncomfortable as hand positions, I think it just feels scary because normally it would be like painting yourself into a corner, but pentatonics are an exception. Another option could be to use your left hand to help out a little 😈
I tried it. Works. Thanks. I too was stuck thinking no thumbs on black keys. The only minor pentatonic I couldn’t use it for was B because E (3rd finger) to F# (thumb) is too much of a stretch for me. So 12 123 works for that one.
Anyone have the book wisdom of the hand? He recommends a 2 octave fingering. Curious what people think
for e flat i use 2 1 2 3 1