Forearm Rotation  «Prev  Next»

Thumb under a Finger in a passage

The rule applies with equal force when you turn a finger over the thumb, unexpected although it may seem. Therefore, to help a finger turned over the thumb (for example, when the left hand plays an ascending passage), you must still give the invisible or visible rotatory help outwards after finger 3 crosses over the thumb.
Thus, when playing a trill played with a finger turned over the thumb, you should give alternate rotations
  1. inwards (towards the thumb) and
  2. outwards (towards the 5th finger).

The motions are continuous, visible and smooth during practice and invivible during performance.

Pronation is Rotation towards the thumb

Rotation towards the thumb
Left hand: Rotation towards the thumb, and and uparrow signifies rotation towards little finger known as supination.

Try it with rotation supplied first in the correct direction and then in the wrong direction.

Bad Scales:

Much scale-playing is uneven because this rule has not been grasped. This rule, however, is precisely reversed when you turn a long finger over a short one. Hence, when the middle-finger is turned over the fifth, you must rotate with the middle-finger towards the thumb side.