Any advice on my piano trills?

Hi, can someone please give me advise on my trills. Im working on some Chopin pieces and my trills sound horrible. I have an upright, and I know its not the best for trills, but that is all I have to work with. Should i keep a half pedal? whats the best fingers to use for the basic trill, etc.

I think that the second and third finger are the strongest fingers for trills. However, you should go by what fits best for the piece. From the pieces that I've played in Chopin, I know that you need big hands for the chords and the trills can be challenging. I would just keep practicing and try and make the fingers that you end up using for the trills stronger by doing exercises. You can get one of those guitar-hand strengthening devices, or you can just put the pad of that finger against the pad of your thumb (make a ring with the two fingers) and push. It strengthens your fingers.

Good luck!

For the right hand (I'm left-handed), I generally try and use something like 3-1-3-2-3-1-3-2. My middle finger's fastest, and for the other note of the trill, alternating two other fingers on the lower note seems to get it more even. My technique is evidently flawed, but this might be a workaround. Maybe try it a few times and show it to someone more knowledgeable?

I'd personally and normally advise against a half-pedal, 'cos I don't think the trill needs to be that blurred in Chopin. There's also quite frequently important work that needs to be crisp at the same time as a trill. Circumstances dictate technique and interpretation :(

Keep practicing and learn the song.

well, first off, practice helps. Take out your trusty metronome, and trill the fingers as 8th notes. I would start out at quarter note= 50 and then slowly speed it up. Your trills will improve and your Chopin will sound more musical.

I quite agree with Ren, but i would use second and third fingers for trills if only you start from black keys to semitone through third intervals above trills, and if playing from white keys through major third intervals above, then use first and third fingerings!

But it is only suggestions as i feel safe to use these fingerings for fast passage trills!,

just explore various ways and you will soon be able to figure out which finerings work best for you. Good luck! :)

For trills i use the second and third/third and second fingers. (depends on the notes) What i do is i 'lean' into the first not (if you get what i mean). So it's like the first note is emphasised and the other notes have a lighter touch.
For turns:
I use the fingering 3 2 1 2 . But it varies according to the notes. Play around and find one that suits you.

I pretty much agree with all of them. Sometimes, a piece might call for a trill with fingers other than 2nd and 3rd. I believe every pianist that is serious about what they do should have this book. Its called the Hannon, The Virtuoso Pianist in 60 Exercises. It works on your dexterity and makes your fingers really strong. As you go further in the book, you end up working on trills with all fingers. Do it everyday. I promise you won't be disappointed. GET THE BOOK!! Its a bible for pianists

I recommend using your thumb and third fingers (this method works even better than using the 2nd and 3rd finger) for notes a half step to and whole step away from each other. This produces a more crisp and accurate sound. It's to follow the sheet music's notation for pedal use.