Piano Basics · Chapter 4 of 9
Finger Numbers
Pianists give each finger a number. Learn them once and you can follow the fingering printed in your music.
Each finger has a number, and the numbers are the same on both hands:
| Number | Finger |
|---|---|
| 1 | thumb |
| 2 | index finger (the pointer) |
| 3 | middle finger |
| 4 | ring finger |
| 5 | little finger (the pinky) |
A quick way to learn them: hold your hands up in front of you, palms facing away, and wiggle each finger as you say its number. Both thumbs are 1, both little fingers are 5.
The hands are mirror images
Put both hands on the keys. Your thumbs point toward each other, near the middle of the keyboard. So on the right hand the numbers go up from left to right (1 2 3 4 5), and on the left hand they go down from left to right (5 4 3 2 1). The thumbs are 1 on both.
Play by number
Rest your right thumb on middle C and one finger on each white key up to G. Now play the fingers the music asks for.
Now the left hand. Put your left little finger (5) on the C below middle C, and one finger on each white key up to G, where your left thumb rests.
Finger numbers in printed music
Sheet music often prints small numbers above or below the notes to suggest a finger. Here are the first notes of Mary Had a Little Lamb with their finger numbers. You’ll learn to read the notes themselves in Reading Music; for now, just notice the numbers. Press Hear it, or tap any note.
Remember
- 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger, on both hands.
- The thumbs point toward each other, so the hands mirror each other.
- Numbers printed by the notes suggest which finger to use.