Piano Forum

Topic: Isn't this physically impossible to play?  (Read 3399 times)

Offline commongnd

  • PS Silver Member
  • Newbie
  • ***
  • Posts: 3
Isn't this physically impossible to play?
on: May 06, 2011, 07:41:08 PM
Hi guys,

I've been practicing piano for a couple of months and was wondering how I'm supposed to play the following part in the red box. I find it impossible to put my fingers on all keys for those notes as my fingers are not long enough. Is it even possible to play it for anyone? Any advice?



Offline amie_de_chopin

  • PS Silver Member
  • Jr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 30
Re: Isn't this physically impossible to play?
Reply #1 on: May 06, 2011, 08:42:10 PM
If you can't reach a chord you'll normally have to roll it. In some cases you can also leave out a note depending on the circumstances, but here it is better to roll I think.
I don't think that chord is really impossible, you just need big hands. I can almost reach it  :P, and my hands are small...  ;)
If you have only been playing for a couple of months by the way you will see that your stretch will increase with time. I can now reach a 9th, and at the beginning I could only reach an 8th.

Offline commongnd

  • PS Silver Member
  • Newbie
  • ***
  • Posts: 3
Re: Isn't this physically impossible to play?
Reply #2 on: May 06, 2011, 08:53:13 PM
Hi amie,

Thanks for your reply. Are you sure you can almost reach it? Isn't the second chord in the red box D# F# B F#? I wear size large for gloves and I can't even get close to reaching all those keys. Am I missing something?

Offline amie_de_chopin

  • PS Silver Member
  • Jr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 30
Re: Isn't this physically impossible to play?
Reply #3 on: May 06, 2011, 09:36:24 PM
Oh, I had only tried the first one.
Yes, the second one is more difficult.
On another board I once saw a discussion about a piece with really huge chords (really impossible to reach) and they said it was implicit that they should be rolled, even without the arpeggio indication...
I can imagine people with huge hands to reach the chord in your piece though. I can almost reach the E, and it is not really so far from the F#. I think with some practice I could play the first chord, but not the second... ???
One of the pieces I have left among my last pieces to learn (by my favourite composer) is the Nocturne Op.48 No/1, precisely because of the huge chords, but I want to try it very soon.  ;)

Offline pianowolfi

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 5654
Re: Isn't this physically impossible to play?
Reply #4 on: May 06, 2011, 10:06:29 PM
I can play this quite easily if I take the lower D# and F# both with my thumb.

Offline commongnd

  • PS Silver Member
  • Newbie
  • ***
  • Posts: 3
Re: Isn't this physically impossible to play?
Reply #5 on: May 06, 2011, 10:24:10 PM
Thanks for your replies.

pianowolfi, the thought of hitting two keys with one finger didn't even occur to me! (Again, I've only been playing for a couple months) I can do this with the first chord but the second chord is impossible. :(

amie, I don't think rolling the chord is an option for me since it doesn't sound as good as the original.. I guess I will keep stretching my fingers until they get long enough to play that chord! :)

Offline thinkgreenlovepiano

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 450
Re: Isn't this physically impossible to play?
Reply #6 on: May 06, 2011, 11:13:53 PM
Thanks for your replies.

pianowolfi, the thought of hitting two keys with one finger didn't even occur to me! (Again, I've only been playing for a couple months) I can do this with the first chord but the second chord is impossible. :(

amie, I don't think rolling the chord is an option for me since it doesn't sound as good as the original.. I guess I will keep stretching my fingers until they get long enough to play that chord! :)

Well sometimes there are chords that you just can't play. I mean with practise hands gradually become more flexible but there'll still be a limit. I'm not trying to be negative but don't feel bad if you can't reach it. Not all hands are the same size anyway. My teacher said that it's like a hair elastic compared to a long rope. You can stretch the elastic, but no matter how much you stretch it it can't become as long as the rope before it breaks! (Haha my teacher has the weirdest analogies!) So basically, don't hurt yourself over it :P
"A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence."
~Leopold Stokowski
For more information about this topic, click search below!

Piano Street Magazine:
The Complete Piano Works of 16 Composers

Piano Street’s digital sheet music library is constantly growing. With the additions made during the past months, we now offer the complete solo piano works by sixteen of the most famous Classical, Romantic and Impressionist composers in the web’s most pianist friendly user interface. Read more
 

Logo light pianostreet.com - the website for classical pianists, piano teachers, students and piano music enthusiasts.

Subscribe for unlimited access

Sign up

Follow us

Piano Street Digicert