Hand Position & Fingers | PianoMadeEasy

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Good hand position isn't about looking fancy. It's what lets your fingers move quickly and comfortably without straining. Get it right early and it'll feel completely natural within a few sessions.

Left Hand

PinkyRingMiddleIndexThumb

Right Hand

ThumbIndexMiddleRingPinky

Sheet music labels fingers 1–5, thumb to pinky, on both hands. Thumb is always finger 1.

Getting comfortable at the keys

Curve your fingers, like you're gently holding a small ball. Fingertips touch the keys, not the flat pads of your fingers.
Relax your wrist, keep it level with your forearm, not bent up or drooping down. A tense wrist is the #1 cause of beginner fatigue.
Sit at the right height: elbows roughly level with the keys, feet flat on the floor (use a footstool if you need one).
Thumb is finger 1, on both hands. This trips almost everyone up at first, so it's worth memorizing early.

Try it yourself

Rest your right-hand thumb on Middle C (find it using Lesson 1), then let fingers 2, 3, 4, and 5 rest naturally on D, E, F, and G. That's the starting hand position for most beginner pieces, including several of the tutorials on this site.

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