Flat versus ‘Rounded” fingers: the real dirt!

[unknown-user]

Interesting to know, thanks for sharing.

Did you have a chance to ask Ms Jamet for the list of piano pieces which Debussy wrote and approved as harp music? I am the most curious to know. Thanks!

[carl-swanson]

Someplace on this site there was a discussion about playing with the knuckle

nearest the fingernail “flat” rather than rounded.

[unknown-user]

My understanding is that Mr. Grandjany had very long fingers and his 4th finger “collapsed” when outstretched. He didn’t necessarily teach it, but his students tended to copy it. I believe Salzedo would also flatten his inner fingers when necessary to avoid buzzing, but he also wasn’t afraid to buzz a little. Guitarists certainly do it a lot, along with some other instruments. So it seems to be typical of all the French harpists, perhaps all over.

[Elizabeth Volpé Bligh]

Sometimes I flatten my fingers to avoid buzzing, or to get a different tone quality when I

play a chord. It is, however, mainly because my fourth finger is rather short, and when my

fourth finger is placed in a widely-spaced chord, my third finger’s knuckle is pulled right

up against the strings. If they are supposed to be vibrating, this can create a problem of

unwanted buzzing or dampening.

[erin-wood]

I have had teachers insist that the fingers stay rounded all the time.

[alexander-rider]

Well personally I don’t understand this concept or what it looks like without someone showing me or seeing a picture! But I presume I play with round fingers! Can someone elaborate?

[Elizabeth Volpé Bligh]

When we refer to “round” fingers, we mean when both the knuckles are curved in a convex

way. “Flattened” means when, as Carl said, the knuckle nearest the fingernail is flat or

slightly concave instead of curved.

[alexander-rider]

Oh! Thanks Elizabeth!I think Skaila Kanga plays with flat fingers sometimes. Though that was just one photograph….I had pictured something like having the fingers horizontal to the strings!! How stupid, because that’s not really possible, is it? Alex

[unknown-user]

I would posit that a finger where the knuckle is bent inward will present a bit of inertia that must be overcome to close the finger into the hand, thus slowing down the movement at least slightly. I knew a good professional harpist who bent in each finger’s knuckle and had noticably limited speed.

[Elizabeth Volpé Bligh]

Well, actually, Saul, I know it seems counter-intuitive, but it really doesn’t limit your speed.

I’ve tried it both ways. And, of course, there are many lightning-quick harpists from both

schools of thought. I really think it comes down to hand and finger sizes and shapes. What

works well for one person doesn’t always work well for another.

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