chord help

[redhead]

Can someone please explain how to hit a chord (say GCEG) without abducting/adducting the wrist?

I can kind of manage it (without too much wrist twisting) for something like CEGC (right hand) where I use 1-2-3-5 and 2-3-5 are well into the black key area.

I assume this is the correct form?
 
But for GCEG, I must hit it with all the fingers near the ends of the keys, which twists the wrist.  Am I doing something wrong, or is this just inevitable given my hand size and the chord in question?

thanks
brian

[monk]

Hi redhead,

this is how my hand looks when I play GCEG:



Be aware of the following things:

- I have no big hand; can span only some tenths and only with strain.


- E is played with the 4th finger!
The middle 3 fingers should whenever possible remain near together, while the thumb and little finger are naturally suited to be abducted (extra muscles in the hand).

- My fingers are just a little bit curved, so that the natural relaxed hand form is altered as little as possible.

- The 3rd finger is relaxed; I don't unnecessaily contract muscles (which would result in the 3rd finger going up in the air).

- The chord is played with the weight of the whole arm, and I can rest comfortably in the keybed.

- The wrist is free; I can move my arm in all directions while relaxedly holding the chord.

Voilą!

Best Wishes,
Monk

[redhead]

Thanks for the help.  I'm at work, but I'll check this out (on a piano) when I get home.

One thing still isn't clear.  What's the angle between the 3rd finger and the forearm during this chord?  I have been trying to always keep the 3rd finger pointing straight up the forearm.  

But as soon as I play 1 and 5 on the edge of the white keys, I've twisted my wrist and the 3rd finger makes something like a 30 degree angle to the forearm.  If I make my hand appear like the picture above, it still looks the same (about 30 degrees off of straight).

Unfortunately, your picture doesn't show me the wrist and forearm angle.

Edit:  Ok. I tried this out at home.  I was using 1-2-3-5 before, so 1-2-4-5 definitely helps.  With this fingering, I can move the pinky into the black key area, which straightens my wrist much more (but not fully).  

thanks again
brian