Main gauche

As Printed on a Score

Printed over or under the notes, almost always as m.g. or M.G., where the left hand should take them — often notes written on the upper staff — or inside phrases such as la m.g. un peu en dehors. It applies to the notes marked; m.d. marks the right hand.

Abbreviations: m.g., M.G., m. g., M. G.

How Composers Use It

Hand indications solve problems the staff layout cannot: crossings, notes shared between the hands, a melody given to the left-hand thumb. Mark them where the distribution is not the obvious one, and combine them with en dehors when the left hand carries the tune. M.g. identifies a French score; Italian scores print m.s. (mano sinistra), German l.H.

Example

Chopin, Barcarolle in F-sharp major, Op. 60, piano, m. 116: “m.g.” at ff, assigning the marked notes to the left hand.

Related Terms