How long are your fingers?

[fleetfingers]

In all the years I've played the piano, no one has ever said anything to me about the size of my hands or lengths of my fingers (even my teachers). Recently, a musician friend that I've met and have worked with applauded me for not letting my small hands stop me from playing the piano. I knew I had small-"ish" hands, but haven't realized until now how small they really are. Haha, I've had a lot of people laugh at my stubby toes, though.

So, ever since he said that to me, I've been paying close to attention to others' hands and fingers. And, I am actually quite shocked at how tiny mine are. In watching youtube videos of pianists playing pieces that I play, I can see a remarkable difference in how far I have to stretch and the apparent ease with which they reach the same intervals. So far, I have not seen anyone in person or online that has shorter fingers than mine. But, it is sometimes hard to tell.

So, purely out of curiousity, how long are your fingers and your handspan?

My longest finger (middle) is 2 5/8 inches (6.7cm) and my little finger is just 1 7/8 inches (4.8cm). The span from the tip of my thumb to the tip of my little finger is 7 1/4 inches (18.4 cm).

[birba]

They should never have told you that!  Little hands never get in the way.  remember that!  They can do everything a big hand can do - and some things maybe even better! 

[pianist1976]

I have mid-sized hands. I can reach up to a tenth interval (difficultly and stretching with effort) but I can only play really comfortably an octave. I had no problem with most of the repertory I played (I mean, no extra problems, of course building a repertoire requires tons of work) but there are some pieces that I love but gave me a lot of problems. For example, I love Schumann toccata Op 7 but I must do an enormous physical effort every time I play it (I seldom play it because of this).

In brief: in my opinion most of the repertoire is suitable for small hands and there are a few exceptions of works which are very difficult for small hands.

[go12_3]

I have small hands and short fingers, and can easily do an octave span with no problem.

[ponken]

My hands are pretty small and I have never found that to be a problem.

[keyb0ardfweak]

Small hands are better to play Mozart.

I have long fingers and it is quite disturbing to play it 100% efficiently and correctly

[nanabush]

Index - 9cm
Middle - 10.5 cm
Ring - ~9.3
Pinky - 7.5

These are all from the web part of the hand.  I have pretty small palms, but pretty long-a$$ fingers lol  I can reach an 11th comfortably (C - A -C -F chord is ok to play)

[sheena]

I have pretty small hands and short fingers but I can easily reach an octave and even a ninth at slower speeds. But what seems to be a bigger issue, at least for me, is the span between the fingers. The problem is not to reach just an octave with thumb and pinky, but how one is able to use the other fingers in between while doing so.

[i1i1oo]

My hands are just medium size. Middle:8 . Little:6 . Its just ok i think but i still believe small hands is not a problem to play piano because i saw a man played piano with his toes.
https://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjEzODAyNDE2.html

[ted]

My fingers seem to be closer to equal length and thickness than most people's. I do not have a large hand but I can play most tenths quite easily, which is handy for stride and swing. If I spread my fingers like the spokes of a wheel, which actually lessens my stretch by two semitones, the shape can be seen. I seem to have been blessed with the old-fashioned ideal of almost equal strength and independence of fingers without trying, which is probably just as well as I was never taught any proper technique.

Not an attractive hand by any means, but it has served my music well.


 

[birba]

Yes, I'd say it's the long pinky and thumb that play to your advantage here.   

[asianpianoer]

yes short fingers are quite useful for mozart but it makes beethoven quite hard.

[pianoplayjl]

But in the end long fingers are better. I htink the middle finger is mostly the longest. Mine is.