Just looking at the Rachmaninov C#minor prelude Op3 No.2 and I have a couple of editions of the music.

How do people tackle the opening i.e. bar 3 first quaver chord? I'd naturally play the top E in the bass clef with my right hand and the lower C# in the treble clef with my left - but in one edition it looks like it suggests you crossover thumbs - can that be the case?

I don't have teacher at the moment so any advice would be much appreciated!

I dont have a teacher either! but i've played it and when i get home ill tell you what i do b/c i cant remember what i did!

That'd great Izzy - I really don't want to learn it the wrong way!

I played it with crossed thumbs. I found it easier to read (octaves in both hand), but do whatever you find easier.

Thumb crossing, definitely. That way one can keep the octave shape consistent in each hand and concentrate on the touch; all important to avoid yet another hackneyed rendition of the piece, thumping out each chord....

Ahhh, yes, the Op.3 No.2, a fantastic prelude! Well done on your choice!

You'll find it much easier playing it the way it's written i.e. crossing fingers (in this case thumbs) Once you get it for one section, it'll help the rest of the chordal sections. It also improves the sound of it to an extent playing it crossed thumbed than playing it non crossed also.


IrisH - LoonY

It's quite an emotional piece don't you think IL? I'm sure you play it fably

I have heard renditions of this piece, one on an out of tune piano, it wsa awful..had no feeling in it whatsoever.

I know this isnt really relevant to the thread but I love preludes in G min and C# but I havent really heard any others. Care to recommend any?

I studied Op.23 No.7 in C minor a couple of years ago and got it up to a reasonable level. It's primarily a RH study, and once you get the fingering right it fits well under the hand. It's currently a listed piece in the DipABRSM syllabus.

Thanks for the tips.....definitely makes sense now.

Guess it's time I got a teacher!

No.4 in D from Op.23 is a gloriously wonderful one. And No.9 in E flat minor from Op.23. Op.32 however, No. 10 in B minor and No.11 in G# minor are fab!

IrisH - LoonY

There are so many beautiful preludes - the Eb major, and G major particularly are favourites of mine.

Are you sure crossing the thumbs is the best way.. I learned this song with out crossing. I learned it much faster that way.. It took me only a few hours to memorize the first page. I see the point you are making that, your hands will be used to the 4 note chords, but still, you have to learn those chords anyway. I haven't had trouble learning the big chords, I actually found that the easiest part of the piece, the hard part is the middle section =].



Ok, I just went back and studied this.. The reason why I learned it that why is because a friend I know who is around 50 years old played it without crossing over, thats why I learned it that way, then he said he learned it wrong, and he showed me the different in the sounds. How the thirds are more distinct rather than the sixths. If that made sense then good, if not, you can hear the difference. Now i got to go back and learn it the right way. SORRY FOR DOUBTING YOU RACHMANINOFF lol. well he could reach and octave and four.. ok well, lates.

p.s. it is easier to memorize it and learn it the wrong way. but you can tell the difference , and the wrong way isnt as good.

This is a bit random again but i dont want to start another thread..apporximately what standard do people think prelude in g minor is?

currently listed in LRSM syllabus

The G minor prelude is LRSM??...
My teacher has touted that as my next piece