Long thin fingers...why is that a good thing?

[musicioso]

Hallo everyone,


I know, long fingers is good because you can reach larger intervals, but why is thin fingers considerd a good thing to have? I mean thin fingers are less strong.. or am i mistaken?

[stevebob]

Fingers don't need to be "strong"; the muscles that control the fingers are in the hands and arms.

If slender fingers are considered advantageous, it's probably because of greater agility and more precise aim.  I reckon that they are less likely to hit adjacent keys by accident, and they can certainly fit more easily between the black keys when a chord requires that a white key be played at the tail end instead of the front (e.g,, f-sharp minor).

[slow_concert_pianist]

Chopin is renowned for "thin fingers" but most put it down to TB.

There are also ligaments in the fingers stevebob and they need to be in tiptop shape. The greatest problem with performance is being able to process information at speed (and relay it at speed). The equipment can be advantageous but if the spirit behind it is out of tune, forget about any headway.

[stevebob]

Chopin is renowned for "thin fingers" but most put it down to TB.

Both of those factoids are a surprise to me, and seem to be contradicted by pictures of a post-mortem cast of Chopin's left hand made by Auguste Clésinger.

There are also ligaments in the fingers stevebob and they need to be in tiptop shape. The greatest problem with performance is being able to process information at speed (and relay it at speed). The equipment can be advantageous but if the spirit behind it is out of tune, forget about any headway.

Uh-huh.

[music32]

Interesting post. I always think of pianist, Alicia De Larrocha as disproving the stereotype about long, thin fingers being the requirement to fluidly master the piano, from the technical side of things.
And it strikes me that Daniel Barenboim, from watching videos of his performances, has likewise small hands, but is a wonderful pianist and interpreter. My teacher, Lillian Freundlich, told me about Arthur Loesser who had unusually small hands as well. I think it's always of benefit to have a big span, to reach impossibly big stretches between notes as might occur in Liszt compositions, but that certainly is not the end all of piano playing. I guess I just don't get into the size of hands things, because, in my opinion, phrasing and musical expression are far more critical to performing a composition beautifully than any genetic, physical endowment.

[stevebob]

I thought the topic was long and slender fingers vs. short and stubby ones.

[thalbergmad]

I am jealous of people with thin fingers. Not because I think they are easier to play piano with, but they are better for picking up hula hoops and picking your nose.

It ain't what you got that is important, it is what you do with it.

Thal

[jinfiesto]

Theodore Leschetizky, thought that thick fingers were the best for playing. He taught some of the greats, so he probably knows what he's talking about. According to him, thicker fingers produce the best tone. I wouldn't know, since I have rather slender fingers. Personally, I don't really think it makes a difference.

[music32]

Yes, I'm thinking in that regard of Menahem Pressler.. (shorter, wider fingers) Wonderful, poetic musician. Wondering if Georgy Sebok also has small, more chubby hands. .not sure..

Shirley K
https://arioso7.wordpress.com