Alternating Pairs of Fingering

Minka Variations

The Cossack song "Minka" offers a good opportunity for practicing alternating pairings of fingerings. The pair of notes played is usually the melody note and a harmonizing note that is the interval of a third or sixth away. As the melody moves and the notes change, the notes are played by alternating pairs of fingers. Notes played by the even fingers (2 and 4) are followed by notes played by the odd fingers (3 and 5), followed by notes played by the even fingers, and so on.

Play C Major scale up and down using only fingers 4 and 5. Begin with the finger 5 on the "C" in the middle of the keyboard on row 3 (counting the rows from right (outside) to left (inside).

[on B-System:]

[note:  C  D  E  F  G  A  B  C]

[row:    3  4  2  4  2  3   1  3]

[finger: 5  4  5  4  5  4  5  4]  


Then play the C natural minor scale (3 flats) using fingers 4 and 5.

[on B-System:]

[note:  C  D  Eb  F  G  Ab Bb C]

[row:    3  4  3   4  2   4   2  3]

[finger: 5  4  5   4  5   4   5  4]  

Play Minka with fingers 4 and 5.

C Eb  C Eb C Eb  D  C  B  D  B  D  B  D  C  B
       [repeat 2x]                [repeat 2x]          
4  5   4  5  4  5   4  5  4  5  4   5   4  5  5  4      


C Eb  C Eb C Eb  D  C  B  D  G  B  C  D
       [repeat 2x]                          
4  5   4  5  4  5   4  5  4  4   5  4  5  4  


Eb G Eb G Eb G   F  Eb  D  F  D  F  D  F  Eb D  
       [repeat 2x]                [repeat 2x]          
4  5   4  5  4  5   4  5  4  5  4   5   4  5  4   5        


C Eb  C Eb C Eb  D  C  B  D  G  B  C  Eb  C
       [repeat 2x]                          
4  5   4  5  4  5   4  5  4  4  5  4   4  5   4    

              
Play Minka with harmonizing notes a sixth below played with finger 2 when finger 4 is used, and with finger 3 when finger 5 is used.

Harmonizing notes for Minka to be played at the same time as the melody above.

Eb G Eb G Eb G   F  Eb  D  F  D  F  D  F  Eb D
       [repeat 2x]                [repeat 2x]          
2   3  2  3  2  3   2  3   2  3   2  3  2  3  3   2    


Eb G Eb G Eb G   F  Eb  D  F  B  D  Eb F  
       [repeat 2x]                          
2  3   2  3  2  3   2  3   2  2   3  2  3   2      


G Bb G Bb G  Bb  Ab  G  F  Ab  F  Ab  F  Ab G  F
       [repeat 2x]                    [repeat 2x]          
2  3  2  3  2   3    2   3  2  3   2  3  2  3   2   3           


Eb G Eb G Eb G   F  Eb  D  F   B  D  Eb  G  Eb
       [repeat 2x]                          
2  3   2  3   2  3  2  3   2   2   3  2   2   3   2     

When playing Minka, fingering is adjusted based on the melody line. Sometimes the same set of fingers jump to play a next set of notes. Sometimes the lower finger will now play the note that was previously played by the higher finger. Another skill to develop is to play the same note or notes with alternating fingers, which repeats the notes as in a tremolo.

Below are some recordings of Minka.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLvFilT5HoE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxKjQEO-i1g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp88c6IeGBI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5JE6s9FeGc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YisgJFlKlg