Big Chords, Small Hands

[lauramars]

I have small hands, and I just can't reach those +2 octaves and large chords in some pieces.  What is the correct way to handle this?

I'd prefer not to pull a Schumann.

[amanfang]

I either:

1. Roll the chord
2. Redistribute to the other hand (when possible)
3. Omit a note
4. Pick literature with a smaller span - there's a lot out there

[steve jones]

I think its usually acceptable to roll a large chord. All the pianists to this, as put simply, there are chords in the romantic literature that most pianist cant reach!

The challenge is to do it so that no one notices!

SJ

[mad_max2024]

Pedals are your friends... most of the time you can use them to hold the notes together while rolling the chord
Of course what to do when you find an unplayable chord depends on what the music demands. Try to find out what's the spirit of the music and what the composer intends for people to feel in the passage where you found the chord. Then experiment with different ways to play it and pick the one that fits best.

amangfang gave some good suggestions on how to play the chords
I think I once also played and held the bass note and then followed with the rest of the chord rather than completely rolling it

Never be afraid to change the music to make it playable...

[gorbee natcase]

I think its usually acceptable to roll a large chord. All the pianists to this, as put simply, there are chords in the romantic literature that most pianist cant reach!

The challenge is to do it so that no one notices!

SJ

I agree If you learn to do it fast enough you either don't notice or learn to play in a way that sounds interesting and unique, I think if you master the latter you have something speccial

[steve jones]

Totally!

I was listening to someone play the Liszt TE No10 today, think it may have been Kissin. Anyway, I looked at the score and was shocked to see the size of some of the left hand chords! When I listened to the recording again really closely I could just about make out that he was rolling the left hand. It was just so fast that I didnt even notice!

Another thing you can do (as I think has been mentioned) is to play just the bass note detached and then hit the rest of the chord (like at the start of Rach2).

I agree that sometimes I chord does need to be hit solid. And in those cases, the only option (if remaining faithful to the score) is to hit the bass note just before the rest of the chord.

SJ

[lauramars]

Oh, of course. That seems rather elementary now that you say it...Thanks everybody.

[mad_max2024]

All questions are easy once we know the answer...