FFR Hand Postitions Guide

[Billydude]

When I first started FFR, I thought there was only one hand postition. That was just using 3 fingers on one hand. Although this did work, it seems like it wasn't good enough. First of all, my hand hurt after I played hard songs. Second of all, I had to share the up and down arrow key with my middle finger which made it harder for me to do up down jumps, and just switching back and forth. Although one handed may be hard for the harder songs, with a lot of practice you can become better with any postition. This guide basically just explains the different hand positions you can use while playing FFR.


3 fingered one hand: This is the hand position that most new members (including myself at a time) use. It is usually the simplest and most comfortable for new members, so they often assume it is the best way to play FFR.

Fingering:
Dominant hand index finger goes on: left arrow key <
Dominant hand middle finger goes on: alternates on up and down arrow key v ^
Dominant hand ring finger goes on: right arrow key >

Advantages:
1. It is the most comfortable for new members.

Disadvantages:
1. It is harder to do quick songs and jumps.
2. It wears out your hand.


4 fingered one hand: I have only known one or 2 people who actually use this position actually, and I find it rather difficult. It is basically the same as the 3 fingered one hand techique, but instead of your middle finger controlling both the up and down arrows, your thumb controls the down arrow.

Fingering: The fingering is the same as 3 fingered one hand, except your thumb controls the down v arrow.

Advantages:
1. If one of your hands is extremely dominant over the other, this is a good way to cover all four keys.

Disadvantages:
1. It feels pretty awkward to most people.
2. It wears out your one hand.


Spread: Spread is the position most veterans or elites play (including myself ). Spread is hard to master at first, especially if you started out one handed. But from experience, switching to spread will make you a better player. And before I explain fingering let me point out the number pad. The number pad is not the number above all the letters, it is on the very right of your keyboard and has numbers on it. If you look at the 8, 6, 4, and 2 you will notice they have arrows, these arrows can be used in FFR also.*
*note: if you play Stepmania, you will have to go to options and map it or else this position won't work.

Fingering:
Left middle finger goes on: left arrow key <
Left index finger goes on: down arrow key v
Right index finger goes on: 8 numberpad
Right middle finger goes on: 6 numberpad

Advantages:
1. It covers all 4 arrows
2. It doesn't wear out your hand
3. Rolls, hands, and quads.

Disadvantages:
1. It makes the up and right arrow keys jealous XD.
2. Running men may be harder with this position.


Index: Index is probobly the most unique hand style there is. It uses only the index fingers of both hands.* Surprisingly enough, many elites (such as Novacaine) use this position.
*note: most index player alternate index fingers instead of assigning 2 arrow keys to each finger

Fingering: Your 2 index fingers alternate, and hit the designated arrow. Btw, index fingers don't use the number pad, just the 4 normal arrows keys.

Advantages:
1. With this position, you can use more then one finger for one key which may help you on jackhammers.
2. Trills can be more comfortable and easier with this position.

Disadvantages:
1. You may accidently miss the arrow.
2. It may be harder for fast songs.
3. Jumpstreams may be harder with this position.
4. Hands and Quads.


3 fingered two hand: This is the hand position that mostly average/pretty good players use.

Fingering:
Dominant hand index finger goes on: alternates on up and down arrow key v ^
Dominant hand middle finger goes on: right arrow key >
Off hand index finger goes on: left arrow key <

Advantages:
1. It is less draining than one handed.
2. Quick jumps and 16ths are easier.

Disadvantages:
1. It is harder to do up-down and left-up jumps.
2. Players have to temporarily switch to index to do rolls/staircases.


OTHER PLAYER'S SUGGESTIONS

4 Fingers One Hand V2:


left- right hand, index finger
up- right hand, middle finger
right- right hand, ring finger
down- left hand, index finger


4 Fingers One Hand V3:

left arrow = thumb
down arrow = index
up arrow = middle
right arrow = ring


Crowded Spread:

Left arrow = Left middle
Down arrow = Left index
Up arrow = Right index
Right arrow = Right middle

P.S. sorry it's kinda hard to see the title but I'm running out of colors XD.:



Thank you. Just remember, whichever position you choose, with enough practice you can become good with practice.

But that's not all! There are endless posibilities for finger positions, and you can choose it yourself! All you have to do is learn about it in this thread:

http://www.flashflashrevolution.com/...ad.php?t=41727

Btw, if you have any questions about the fingering positions feel free to ask but if you have a question about mapping keys you will have to ask it in the mapping keys thread.

P.S. If I forgot any common ones please tell me.

*Sticky please*

[Chromer]

Fishing for a sticky? There are so many different forms of hand positions that a sticky wouldnt be feasible.

[Fantasticone]

Index disadvantage should be on jumpstream?

Spread disadvantage should be on running men?

[Billydude]

Originally Posted by Fantasticone

Index disadvantage should be on jumpstream?

Spread disadvantage should be on running men?

I'll add those. Thanks. Oh and Chromer, this was basically just introducing the most common hand positions to a new member, so I think it deserves a sticky.

[MeaCulpa]

That's exactly what I was going to say Fantasticone.

Also, on index, some trills are easier to hit (868686 or 242424) than spread.

[Billydude]

Originally Posted by MeaCulpa

That's exactly what I was going to say Fantasticone.

Also, on index, some trills are easier to hit (868686 or 242424) than spread.

I'll add that too.

Oh and Synth, on the FAQ it does sort of tell about common hand positions, but not very in depth. Can you put this link on the FAQ please?

[Billydude]

*cough*

[TS_SonicMaster]

Everyone always forgets one style
Sig V

[Fantasticone]

Spread Advantage: Rolls, hands, and quads.
Index Disadvantage: Hands and Quads.

[unkdavar]

For 4 fingered one hand I can say since I'm one of the few people that actually do this that there are other advantages. Trills with four notes feel a lot easier to do. A problem with it is that > ^ > ^ > ^ are harder.

[Tibs]

Jesus christ Billydude stop fishing for an unnecessary sticky

[Serious_Cam]

I don't know if it's common or not, but what I do is put my left middle finger on < with my left index finger on top of it (i dunno why, it just feels more comfortable that way), and my right index finger on the down key, my right middle finger on ^ and my ring finger (Before pinky) on >. It seems to work but it makes alternating between double and single notes hard and >^>^> is difficult as well.

[Adamaja456]

you should post some styles like using the letters from the keyboard cuz lots of people do that including me. i used to use DF JK but now i use AS KL and its helped me soo much more

[Fantasticone]

Originally Posted by Adamaja456

you should post some styles like using the letters from the keyboard cuz lots of people do that including me. i used to use DF JK but now i use AS KL and its helped me soo much more

That's spread.

[spinal_compression]

Some pictures would make it visually educational for some... Just a thought.

[wickedawesomeful]

Don't remember what it's called, but...

left- right hand, index finger
up- right hand, middle finger
right- right hand, ring finger
down- left hand, index finger

I know quite a few people that use this.

[chunky_cheese]

I have been playing one hand 3 fingers for 2.5 years now, and ive got to say that you can actually keep getting better. I can fc challenging songs now... only problem im having is stairs of 3 keys and jacks on songs such as FOTBB. Help?

[DrugstoreCowboy]

move your hand faster?
lol.

i play the same way chunky and i can do FOTBB

[bmah]

When I do one hand (right handed) I use the 4 fingers in a different position than what Billydude said. I posted this position several times in other threads. Consider:

left arrow = thumb
down arrow = index
up arrow = middle
right arrow = ring

Again, this is certainly not as comfortable as two hands (feels cramped), but I can't see myself using the thumb for the down arrow.

[Morehead_Kid]

I play index and I think the transitions are smoother between arrows, but I don't have the finger speed to hit faster songs...is that natural for index? Or should I try some one handed play? I've played over a year and have always been an index player.