Numbering Your Fingers Ready For Playing Piano
- Jack Mitchell Smith
- Sep 9, 2025
- 1 min read
When we refer to our fingers in the context of playing piano, the most technically correct phraseology we will ever use is ‘thumb’ or ‘little finger’.
That’s because our fingers are actually numbered, and in order for us to push ahead and really get to grips with learning piano and playing, we just need to know how we refer to them.
On printed music, you may see numbers above certain notes - these are called fingerings. The numbers correspond with which finger you are advised to play that note with, and they are often shown on music to ensure the cleanest performance from the pianist.
How to Number Your Fingers for Piano
It’s extremely easy to remember:
Thumbs = 1
Index Fingers = 2
Middle Fingers = 3
Ring Fingers = 4
Little Fingers / Pinkies = 5
It is, of course, worth noting that the left hand is a mirror image of the right hand, so - assuming a hands down position as you would have whilst playing piano - the left hand would number backwards if reading from left to right!
Have a try of the practice sheet above to see how effectively you have learnt the numbers for the hands!
Jack Mitchell Smith is a piano teacher based in Congleton, Cheshire. Click here to find out more.
Weekly blogs are posted that may help you with your musical or piano journey. Click here to sign up to the mailing list so you never miss a post!
Comments