diff --git a/data_only_viz/finger_strike.py b/data_only_viz/finger_strike.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..15116d8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/data_only_viz/finger_strike.py
@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+"""Air-piano finger strike detection from raw MediaPipe hand joints.
+
+Mirrors hand_features.py conventions (L/R slotting by cx, finite-guarded
+coordinate extraction). A "strike" is a fast downward motion of a fingertip
+RELATIVE to its base knuckle, so translating the whole hand does not fire all
+fingers. Output feeds the OSC /pose/finger route consumed by SuperCollider.
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+
+from data_only_viz.hand_features import _clamp, _coord, _finite
+
+# MediaPipe 21-kp hand: fingertip and base-knuckle indices per finger
+# (thumb, index, middle, ring, pinky). Thumb base = ThumbMP (2).
+FINGERTIPS: tuple[int, ...] = (4, 8, 12, 16, 20)
+FINGER_BASES: tuple[int, ...] = (2, 5, 9, 13, 17)
+
+
+@dataclass
+class StrikeEvent:
+    hand: int          # 0 = left slot (leftmost cx), 1 = right slot
+    finger: int        # 0..4 = thumb, index, middle, ring, pinky
+    strike_speed: float
+    z: float
+    tipx: float
+    tipy: float
+
+
+class _FingerState:
+    __slots__ = ("prev_rel", "armed", "last_t")
+
+    def __init__(self) -> None:
+        self.prev_rel: float | None = None
+        self.armed: bool = True
+        self.last_t: float = -1e9
+
+
+class FingerStrikeDetector:
+    def __init__(self, vel_thresh: float = 0.02, refractory_ms: float = 120.0,
+                 speed_scale: float = 0.10, history_slots: int = 2) -> None:
+        self.vel_thresh = vel_thresh
+        self.refractory_s = refractory_ms / 1000.0
+        self.speed_scale = max(1e-6, speed_scale)
+        # state[slot][finger]
+        self._state = [[_FingerState() for _ in range(5)]
+                       for _ in range(history_slots)]
+
+    def _slot_hands(self, hands: list) -> list:
+        """Validate and order hands leftmost-first (slot 0 = L), like
+        HandFeatureExtractor. Returns up to 2 (cx, landmarks) ordered."""
+        cand = []
+        for lm in hands:
+            try:
+                if lm is None or len(lm) < 21:
+                    continue
+            except TypeError:
+                continue
+            xs = [_finite(_coord(p, "x", 0), 0.5) for p in lm[:21]]
+            cx = _clamp(sum(xs) / len(xs), 0.0, 1.0)
+            cand.append((cx, lm))
+        cand.sort(key=lambda c: c[0])
+        return cand[:len(self._state)]
+
+    def step(self, hands: list, t_now: float) -> list[StrikeEvent]:
+        ordered = self._slot_hands(hands)
+        present = set(range(len(ordered)))
+        events: list[StrikeEvent] = []
+        for slot, (_cx, lm) in enumerate(ordered):
+            for f in range(5):
+                tip = lm[FINGERTIPS[f]]
+                base = lm[FINGER_BASES[f]]
+                tip_y = _finite(_coord(tip, "y", 1), 0.5)
+                base_y = _finite(_coord(base, "y", 1), 0.5)
+                rel = tip_y - base_y          # +down (image y grows downward)
+                st = self._state[slot][f]
+                if st.prev_rel is None:
+                    st.prev_rel = rel
+                    continue
+                vel = rel - st.prev_rel       # +down velocity per frame
+                st.prev_rel = rel
+                if vel < 0.0:                 # lifting -> rearm
+                    st.armed = True
+                if (vel > self.vel_thresh and st.armed
+                        and (t_now - st.last_t) >= self.refractory_s):
+                    st.armed = False
+                    st.last_t = t_now
+                    events.append(StrikeEvent(
+                        hand=slot, finger=f,
+                        strike_speed=_clamp(vel / self.speed_scale, 0.0, 1.0),
+                        z=_finite(_coord(tip, "z", 2, 0.0), 0.0),
+                        tipx=_finite(_coord(tip, "x", 0), 0.5),
+                        tipy=tip_y,
+                    ))
+        # reset slots not present this tick so re-entry does not spike
+        for slot in range(len(self._state)):
+            if slot not in present:
+                for f in range(5):
+                    self._state[slot][f].prev_rel = None
+                    self._state[slot][f].armed = True
+        return events
diff --git a/data_only_viz/tests/test_finger_strike.py b/data_only_viz/tests/test_finger_strike.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..686063b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/data_only_viz/tests/test_finger_strike.py
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+"""Tests for FingerStrikeDetector (air-piano strike detection)."""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from data_only_viz.finger_strike import (
+    FingerStrikeDetector,
+    StrikeEvent,
+    FINGERTIPS,
+    FINGER_BASES,
+)
+
+
+def _hand(tip_y_by_finger: dict[int, float], base_y: float = 0.4,
+          cx: float = 0.3) -> list[list[float]]:
+    """Build a 21-landmark hand. Every base knuckle sits at base_y; each
+    fingertip sits at base_y unless overridden in tip_y_by_finger (keyed by
+    finger 0..4). x is set near cx so L/R slotting is deterministic."""
+    lm = [[cx, base_y, 0.0] for _ in range(21)]
+    for f, base_idx in enumerate(FINGER_BASES):
+        lm[base_idx] = [cx, base_y, 0.0]
+    for f, tip_idx in enumerate(FINGERTIPS):
+        ty = tip_y_by_finger.get(f, base_y)
+        lm[tip_idx] = [cx, ty, 0.0]
+    return lm
+
+
+def test_downward_spike_fires_exactly_one_strike():
+    det = FingerStrikeDetector(vel_thresh=0.02, refractory_ms=120.0)
+    # frame 0: neutral (primes prev), index tip level with base
+    det.step([_hand({1: 0.40})], t_now=0.00)
+    # frame 1: index tip drops 0.06 below -> downward velocity 0.06 > thresh
+    e1 = det.step([_hand({1: 0.46})], t_now=0.04)
+    # frame 2: tip stays down -> velocity ~0, must NOT refire
+    e2 = det.step([_hand({1: 0.46})], t_now=0.08)
+    strikes = e1 + e2
+    assert len(strikes) == 1
+    assert strikes[0].finger == 1
+    assert strikes[0].hand == 0
+    assert strikes[0].strike_speed > 0.0
+
+
+def test_whole_hand_translation_does_not_fire():
+    det = FingerStrikeDetector(vel_thresh=0.02)
+    out = []
+    # tip and base move down together each frame -> relative y constant
+    for i, by in enumerate((0.40, 0.50, 0.60, 0.70)):
+        out += det.step([_hand({1: by}, base_y=by)], t_now=i * 0.04)
+    assert out == []
+
+
+def test_refractory_blocks_second_strike():
+    det = FingerStrikeDetector(vel_thresh=0.02, refractory_ms=120.0)
+    det.step([_hand({1: 0.40})], t_now=0.00)          # prime
+    a = det.step([_hand({1: 0.46})], t_now=0.02)      # strike 1
+    det.step([_hand({1: 0.40})], t_now=0.04)          # lift -> rearm
+    b = det.step([_hand({1: 0.46})], t_now=0.06)      # within 120 ms -> blocked
+    assert len(a) == 1
+    assert b == []
+
+
+def test_strike_speed_scales_with_velocity():
+    soft = FingerStrikeDetector(vel_thresh=0.02, speed_scale=0.10)
+    hard = FingerStrikeDetector(vel_thresh=0.02, speed_scale=0.10)
+    soft.step([_hand({1: 0.40})], t_now=0.0)
+    hard.step([_hand({1: 0.40})], t_now=0.0)
+    s = soft.step([_hand({1: 0.44})], t_now=0.04)   # delta 0.04
+    h = hard.step([_hand({1: 0.50})], t_now=0.04)   # delta 0.10
+    assert h[0].strike_speed > s[0].strike_speed