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Piano Basics: Setting Up at the Keyboard (Posture, Bench, and Hand Shape)

Capítulo 1

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Why Setup Matters (Comfort = Control)

Your physical setup determines how easily you can move, how freely you can use arm weight, and how reliably your fingers can land on the keys. A good setup feels balanced and “ready,” not tense or perched. The goal is a position where your shoulders, arms, wrists, and hands can stay relaxed while your fingers stay precise.

Bench Height and Distance

1) Bench height: where your forearms meet the keys

Start with this simple reference: when your fingertips rest on the keys, your forearms should be approximately level with the floor, or very slightly sloping downward from elbow to fingertip. This supports a neutral wrist and lets your arm weight transfer into the keys without strain.

Too low: wrists tend to bend upward, shoulders may hunch, and you may “reach” with the fingers.
Too high: wrists often drop, elbows flare outward, and you may press down from the shoulder instead of using natural arm weight.

2) Bench distance: close enough to play, far enough to move

Sit so that your elbows are slightly in front of your torso (not pinned behind you). You should be able to place your hands on the keys without straightening your arms fully or pulling your shoulders forward.

Quick check: with hands on the keys, your elbows should remain softly bent—never locked.
Mobility check: you should be able to reach comfortably toward both lower and higher keys by moving your whole body slightly, not by stretching your arms to the limit.

Feet Placement and Lower-Body Balance

Your feet stabilize your upper body. Stable feet help your hands stay light and responsive.

Both feet on the floor: place them about hip-width apart, slightly behind your knees so you feel grounded.
Pedal-ready foot: if you will use the right pedal later, keep the right foot near the pedal area while still maintaining balance through the left foot.
Avoid: tucking feet too far under the bench (can tip you forward) or stretching legs straight (can pull you backward and stiffen the hips).

Upper-Body Alignment (Shoulders, Arms, and Elbows)

Sit tall without stiffness

Think “length” through the spine rather than “military straight.” Your ribcage should feel stacked over your hips, with your head balanced (not jutting forward).

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Shoulders: down and wide

Let your shoulders hang naturally. They should not creep upward when you place your hands on the keys. A helpful sensation is that your shoulder blades rest gently on your back, not squeezed together.

Arms: supported by the back, free at the elbow

Your arms should feel heavy and relaxed, as if they can drape from the shoulder. Elbows stay soft and slightly away from the body so the forearm can rotate easily (useful for smooth finger changes and even tone).

Hand Shape: Neutral Wrists and Rounded Fingertips

Neutral wrist

A neutral wrist is neither collapsed downward nor lifted upward. From the side, imagine a straight line from forearm through the back of the hand. Small natural adjustments are fine, but avoid holding the wrist in an extreme position.

Rounded fingertips (“hand dome”)

Let your fingers curve naturally so the fingertips contact the keys with control. The knuckles (where fingers meet the hand) should look buoyant—neither caved in nor rigidly high. The thumb rests on its side tip, not flattened.

Use this image: your hand forms a gentle dome, like it could hold a small bubble of air underneath the palm.

Step-by-Step: Build Your Playing Position

Sit on the front half of the bench. Aim for a balanced seat on your sitting bones, not slouched back.
Place feet flat and stable. Hip-width apart; feel even contact with the floor.
Stack your posture. Hips under ribs, ribs under head; let the neck be long.
Let shoulders drop. Exhale and allow them to settle; keep them wide, not pinched.
Bring hands to the keys. Move from the whole arm, not by reaching with fingers alone.
Check elbow softness. Elbows slightly forward of the torso and gently bent.
Set neutral wrists. Align forearm and hand; avoid bending up/down.
Form the hand dome. Rounded fingers, buoyant knuckles, thumb relaxed on its side.

Common Mistakes (and Quick Fixes)

Collapsed knuckles

What it looks like: the big knuckles sink inward; fingers look “caved.”

Why it matters: reduces finger stability and can cause strain in the hand.

Quick fix: lift the hand slightly from the wrist/forearm as a unit, then re-place fingertips while keeping the dome shape—think “buoyant knuckles.”

Raised shoulders

What it feels like: tension near the neck; shoulders creep up as you prepare to play.

Quick fix: inhale, then exhale and let the shoulders drop; imagine your elbows getting heavier.

Locked elbows

What it looks like: straight arms, stiff joints, limited movement.

Why it matters: blocks fluid transfer of arm weight and makes tone control harder.

Quick fix: bring the bench slightly closer or let elbows bend softly; feel a “springy” elbow joint.

Neutral wrist lost (wrist too high or too low)

What it looks like: wrist lifted like a “bridge” or dropped like it’s hanging.

Quick fix: place fingertips on the keys, then gently adjust the wrist until forearm and hand feel like one level platform.

Sitting too far back or too close

Too far: you reach and straighten arms; shoulders pull forward.

Too close: elbows get trapped behind the body; wrists contort to compensate.

Quick fix: slide the bench so elbows stay slightly in front of the torso with a soft bend when hands are on the keys.

On-Bench Routine (2–3 Minutes, Repeatable)

Do this before you play any notes. The goal is to “set” your body so the first sound you make comes from a relaxed, organized position.

Routine A: Find a balanced seat (30–45 seconds)

Sit on the front half of the bench.
Rock gently forward/back a few millimeters until you find the point where you feel stacked and stable (not tipping).
Place both feet flat; feel even grounding through both.
Let shoulders drop; keep the neck long.

Routine B: Feel arm weight on the closed lid or keys (45–60 seconds)

If your piano has a closed lid, rest your fingertips lightly on it. If not, rest fingertips gently on the tops of the keys without pressing them down.

Let your arm hang from the shoulder, then bring the hand to rest.
Notice the sensation of arm weight traveling through the relaxed arm into the fingertips—without pushing.
Check that the wrist stays neutral and the shoulder stays down.

Self-check: if you feel effort in the neck or shoulder, reset by letting the elbow feel heavier and widening the collarbones.

Routine C: Practice the relaxed hand “dome” (45–60 seconds)

Lift one hand slightly above the keys.
Let fingers curve naturally as if holding a small ball; keep the thumb relaxed on its side.
Lower the fingertips to touch the keys lightly (no sound), keeping knuckles buoyant.
Repeat 3–5 times per hand, slow and calm.

Optional tactile cue: lightly tap each fingertip on the key surface (still silent) while keeping the dome shape—tap is tiny and relaxed, not percussive.