Fingers lock up not because they're "slow" — usually it's because the movement is unnecessarily large, the practice is unplanned, and speed comes too early. Speed comes after cleanliness.
Quick Summary: How do we solve lock-up?
Economy of Motion
Preventing unnecessary finger lifting.
Metronome Discipline
A logical approach to gradual speed increases.
Chunking
Breaking difficult passages into smaller parts.
6 core exercises (10–15 minutes a day)
Minimal movement
fingers shouldn't leave the key or lift unnecessarily
2-tempo rule
very slow → medium → very slow again
Small metronome increases
2 repetitions clean → +2 bpm; if an error appears → go back 4 bpm
Chunking
split the passage into A/B, clean each separately, then join
Rhythmic variation
long-short, short-long
Record and review
take a 30-second recording twice a week
Tip: To apply finger exercises at the right speed and with correct technique, check out the video library.
The 3 golden rules for getting faster
- Cleanliness first, speed second
- The metronome is for consistency, not speed
- Fingers get faster by moving from close, not from high up
Frequently Asked Questions
How long until I get faster?
Those who practise their technique consistently typically notice a clear improvement in 2–4 weeks.
Are my fingers just heavy?
Most of the time the issue isn't "weight" but economy of motion and unplanned tempo increases. Work on minimal movement.
Are exercises alone enough?
No — alongside exercises you must apply the technique in short passages. It needs to be practised within real music.
If you'd like to work on your speed exercises in a structured sequence of études, follow the finger études in the Education Book.