What does Mano Destra mean in piano music notation?
In piano music notation, Mano Destra (MD) indicates that part of the music should be played with the right hand instead of the left hand. Mano Destra is an Italian term; Mano means “hand” and Destra means “good”, together it means “right hand”. Sometimes this technique can also be indicated in English, where it is “RH” for the right hand, in French, where “MD” stands for Main Droite. There is a similar term that means music must be played with the left hand, Mano sinistra (Ms) .
When is MD used in music?
Typically in piano music, notes written on the bass key are played with the left hand, and music noted on the treble key is played with the right hand. But sometimes the music can call the pianist to use both hands in the lower bass register, or even for the right hand to cross the left hand to play the bass notes. Another time MD is used in music, it may be if the left hand played on the g key and now returns to bass key. MD is placed near the g key to indicate the return of the right hand to the key notes.
