With new found time,I am trying to learn piano. I had a few lessons in 1952,and the fingering was 12312345,tucking in the thumb. In watching some keyboard videos,I see the right hand going up and down the keyboard without adhering to that fingering. Is it no longer used?

Bernie

That is the fingering I have used for 72 years. It is not a law as much as a help. I'm sure there are times I don't use it but I don't pay attention because I normally don't look at the keys when I am playing . It becomes automatic after time.

MEL

That was about the time I took some piano lessons too. Not sure I got that far though.
I remember learning the Marine's hymn and was proud because my dad was in the Marines in WWII.
Mainly I agreed to take piano lessons because the teacher was my girl friend's grandmother.
Maybe I went for six months, but it gave me some basics.
I don't know the answer to your question but thanks for the memories.

Bernie, It's the way I did it in 1962 when I started piano lessons and it's the same way I still play.

Bernie
Thats the smoothest way to move on the keyboard so I don't know if any other system has become popular. Once you get away from scales things can change more as you adapt to your hands and comfort. Just remember keep the wrists and arms level and relax. Go slow, really slow, and the scales will start to come along quickly. Good Luck

Bernie, great exercises --- and like Mel said, after a while try not looking at your hand. Not looking at your hand and playing the scales will make you even more comfortable on your keyboard

John C.

C Major Scale
1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5
Two octaves
1 2 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5
F Major Scale
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Two Octaves
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
G Major Scale
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Two Octaves
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

That's how I was taught in 1977. But I took lessons off-and-on for 6 years and only got through the 2nd year book!

As I'm learning a song, I think about musical "phrases." For example, a chromatic run of eighth notes, or maybe even a few sixteenth notes thrown in. In order to play a run like this "a tempo," I've come to realize that I have to have my hand positioned correctly at the beginning of the phrase. So after a few fumbling attempts, I might annotate the paper score. For example, on an ascending phrase I may write "1" (or "thumb") next to the first note, so I know to reposition my hand at that point. If I remember to do this, I can usually play the remainder of the phrase by feel, and without moving my hand.

Sometimes I'll do something similar with the chords. If it's a slash chord that has to be played in a certain inversion, I'll write the word "shift" and draw an arrow so I know to reposition my hand. This is best done on a whole note, or tied notes when you have plenty of time to get situated. I may or may not write finger numbers above the chord. More so than the melody, the chord fingering has slowly become natural, at least in the familiar keys.

Now I'm not above transposing a song to improve the playing comfort or ergonomics- for example, I prefer to use my longer middle fingers on the black keys. Also, for memorizing chord sequences, there's a lot of value to playing in a familiar key such as C, F, or G.

Despite all this I still make plenty of mistakes, late notes and late chords, etc. I pretty much have to play a song over and over until it's ingrained in my "muscle memory." I'm no musician and I don't want to spread heresy. So if I'm wrong in the way I'm going about this, please counsel my ignorance!!

Thanks for the confirmation. I realize that is is very fundamental,which is where I am starting. When I get to comping on the right hand,there will be more jumping,like UD and Don have shown.
I am starting on Alfred's Adult Piano course. I have seen a myriad of piano courses on line,but I will hold off for now. Luckily,I have organ background,and can read both clefs,but slowly on bass as it has been awhile.

My first tendency is to play chords on LH, and even bring in my pedals with a fake book,but the voicing is so important on the chords,I have to experiment on which inversion to use,and have to guess as to using root or nearest bass.

Oh well,it is all good to use this time to learn a new skill.

Hello Bernie,
As far as fingering is concerned, of course, you do not start with the thumb on any of the black keys. So, it all depends on. Start on F# or Gb for instance... It would require different fingering. I've seen very little music written in six sharps F# but rather Gb except Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves from the Opera Nabucco by Verdi. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Verdi_Nabucco_-_vocal_score_-_III_4_Chorus_of_Hebrew_Slaves_-_Va_pensiero.pdf


Anyway have you worked on Hanon before? It is in public domain. I'm sure you can find it easily on the net. #39 in the book has scales and arpeggios. You already play the keyboard, and I don't think you want to mess with any method books, but the scales and arpeggios can help keep your fingers nimble. If you still want to get into a method book, there is a good beginners' book; an old German method book called Beyer (in public domain, too).
Chris

A lot of good wisdom from Teds and Chris.
If your aim is to play piano, piano books is the way to go.
If not, and you are playing keyboard, stay with the LH chords, and play RH scales and arps.

Having said all that,
I have my piano books out, and ready to go. (enjoyment)
John C.