Is there a right way to play G A C Eb

[Keys4Jazz]

After playing bass for years, I have been trying to learn keyboards for a few months, and want to learn the proper method.
What is the right way to play G A C Eb with your left hand?
If I put my thumb on the Eb, then my fingers are a tight fit between the black keys for G and A.
The other way is to play the C with my thumb bent under, and play Eb with my first finger.

I think most people learn to play with their fingers between the black keys for G and A, but I have big fingers and it feels pretty tight.
There is a benefit that it makes it easier to feel your way around with your fingers wedged between the black keys.
Is that the preferred method taught in school, or is it whatever feels best for your hands. ?

 

[Gearhead]

I just tried it and I would say it depends on your hands and where you are going after that. In my classical training, waaayyy back, that would often be headed somewhere else which you have to set yourself up for. If you are doing a repeating pattern, I see what you mean, putting the thumb on the Eb pulls your hands in and your fingers between the black keys and that's not great. In classical piano, they number your fingers 1 thru 5 starting with the thumb. How about 5-4-3-2? That's what works best for me.

 

[TedS]

I'm really just a beginner myself. One thing I've learned is that spending money on more keyboards doesn't automatically make you a better player! ;-P However, it has made me aware that there are different types of "actions".

You didn't say if you're playing piano, organ, or synth. Playing a Hammond waterfall keyboard was a revelation for me. The keys go almost STRAIGHT DOWN rather than pivoting from the rear. All of a sudden those weird, cramped, and un-ergonomic inversions seemed easier to play!

Of course this won't help you if you are doing Piano. And although the portable Hammonds are lightweight, they aren't cheap! But something like a Hammond SK-Pro or Sk-1 connected via MIDI might make things easier or more comfortable for you. I suggest that you go to a music store and try one! My $.02.

 

[BrianT]

On acoustic pianos, I remember of actually making some adjustment for this on occasion. Digital keyboards are not adjustable as far as I know.

If those particular notes are what you need to play in that position, I'm not sure there is necessarily a "wrong" way to do it if what is normally considered "right" doesn't physically fit. You mention a way that you "can" do it, and if that is what will allow you to make it work, it's not up to any of us to tell you it's wrong. About the only other options I can think of are #1 leaving off notes that are in places your fingers can't navigate, or #2 altering the chords such that you're using a different inversion of the same chord. Sometimes people can "roll" a chord to be able to reach things they couldn't otherwise but I'm not sure that would be helpful in this case.

 

[musicbysterling]

After playing bass for years, I have been trying to learn keyboards for a few months, and want to learn the proper method.
What is the right way to play G A C Eb with your left hand?
If I put my thumb on the Eb, then my fingers are a tight fit between the black keys for G and A.
The other way is to play the C with my thumb bent under, and play Eb with my first finger.

I think most people learn to play with their fingers between the black keys for G and A, but I have big fingers and it feels pretty tight.
There is a benefit that it makes it easier to feel your way around with your fingers wedged between the black keys.
Is that the preferred method taught in school, or is it whatever feels best for your hands. ?

What exact chord are you trying to voice?

 

[amwilburn]

I mean, assuming you don't need G as the bass, you're playing Cm6; (or Cm6/G), if that fingering is uncomfortable why not play C Eb G A with 5-3-2-1?

If you are instead trying to play it as Am7 flat 5, then A C Eb G using 5-3-2-1?

 

[Stilli]

Not sure if you are trying to play a chord or individual notes arpeggiated?
I can finger that sequence G A C Eb either way without any fingers between black keys with a slight adjustment to the wrist and fingers curled away from the black keys, either 5 4 3 2 or 5 4 2 1.
If it's the chord you are after you could invert it to A C Eb G which forms an Am7b5 chord and is simple to finger or ....
C Eb G A which forms a Cm6 chord and again is easy to finger.

 

[TedS]

If the original poster is playing an advanced Arranger-type keyboard without bass pedals, he might be required to play the specific inversion he asked about, because the lowest note (G) controls the bass.

The only workarounds I know of would be to change the chord recognition mode and/or "split point" so the arranger is scanning the whole keyboard. Then perhaps he could play the C and Eb with his right hand.

The other workaround is to hook up a set of bass pedals and play the G with your foot. If the pedals are feeding the same channel that controls arranger chord recognition and set to send MIDI notes one octave below the keyboard, you could still play the rest of the song without pedals; it should work. However, as a non-organist, I can't imagine this latter option being "easier."

Someone earlier on this thread raised the question of "where he is going" which is really important. There are often ways to make it easy on yourself. But if you're not set up for the NEXT chord in the progression, you'll be late or prone to making a mistake. My $.02.

 

[Rayblewit]

Ring finger on Eb, pointer finger on G and A, thumb on C
Am7b5

 

[Keys4Jazz]

I'm playing a Yamaha MODX synth. The chord is A-7 b5 left hand. I don't have bass pedals.
I have run onto this several times where my fingers are a tight fit between the black keys. I see a lot of people doing that, but they must have smaller fingers. I try to avoid using the top of the white keys, but I am asking if that is something I should learn, instead of avoiding it. Maybe I should try it and my fingers will get skinny in time.

A C Eb G why didn't I think of that. Or even better Eb G A C.

The real question is: would you play a chord with your fingers between the black keys, so your hand is relaxed, or on the big part of the white keys and fold your thumb under.

The more I try it the more I think an inversion in the first choice, playing between the black keys is something I should learn. Folding your thumb under is pretty un-natural.

 

[Gearhead]

Are you playing it as a chord, or a sequence? For some reason I took it as a sequence. Folding your thumb under on a sequence is very common, it's how you play scales. But on a chord it wouldn't be my first choice.

Again, we are all built different. Generally, playing out near the end of any key is ideal, but each situation is also different and that's always possible. Simply the fact that the black keys are shorter, plus your fingers are not all the same length...simple geometry dictates there will be compromises, pretty much constantly. My fingers fit between the black keys, so I can do that, but it's not my first choice because sensitivity and dexterity are compromised. Does that make sense?

If your fingers don't fit or barely fit, that may not be a viable option for you.

 

[Rayblewit]

even better Eb G A C.

Ring finger on Eb, pointer finger on G and A, thumb on C

That is what I said

What a beautiful chord sound. To be honest I have never played it before. But it is cool.

 

[musicbysterling]

Ring finger on Eb, pointer finger on G and A, thumb on C
Am7b5

One finger for two notes?

 

[BrianT]

One finger for two notes?

Happens all the time in the real world.

 

[Rayblewit]

One finger for two notes

Yep . . Easy!

 

[Keys4Jazz]

The chord progression is Cmin6/9 Amin7(b5) D7(b13#9) G7(b13#9)
Piano with Johnny: 3 steps to play lounge jazz.
He is an awesome teacher.

 

[Willkeys]

Learn to play G and A further toward the edge of the keys, you don't need to squeeze your pinky and ring fingers between the black keys.

 

[Keys4Jazz]

"Learn to play G and A further toward the edge of the keys"

That could work, but you have to twist your wrist to the left and/or curl your fingers shorter. Need to trim my fingernails also.
I am surprised there are so many ways to do this. I was expecting do this or don't. I'm finding there are many solutions.
Like a lot of other things in music, it's whatever works for you to make the sound. If it is awkward you will find out soon.

 

[BrianT]

Need to trim my fingernails also.

That's a biggie for me. If I don't keep 'em trimmed, they start to break, kinda like if you were folding the end over on itself and they tend to split thickness wise. (It's hard to describe.) And once they're broken, they're hard to trim back far enough because the broken part often extends back farther than where it connects in the front.

A lot depends on how I'm playing and what I'm playing. I don't notice it nearly as much on keyboards with a light touch. However, on my main gigging board, an RD-2000, the touch is quite heavy and if I don't have the sound set up right, I find myself really beating on the keys, hard. It's been a bit of a learning curve but I really like that RD-2000.

 

[Rayblewit]

7th chords always have 4 notes.
Some of them are quite tricky to play with 4 fingers. The trick is to play inversions and the chord will often rearrange the notes to become adjacent notes.
Dm7 is a good example.
Playing the two adjacent notes with one finger is much easier than playing 4 notes spreading your fingers all over the the octave.
One should dedicate some time to learn the best way to play the common 7th chords.
Inversions are often easier.
Also, Yamaha will often recognise a 7th chord by using just 3 notes if you get the root note in the right order.
Try all the different combinations of inversions and memorise.
3 finger chords makes music much more pleasurable to play smoothly and easily.
Learn and practice.
Ray