Does it matter how large your fingers to play piano?

[dannysalva]

In some pieces is required to play non-arpeggiated tenths or something large enough to make my fingers very stretched.

I want to know your opinions

[werq34ac]

I feel like your palm size is more important than your finger length. I knew a pianist, giant guy, at least 6'6" or something. Gigantic fingers. Small palms. Could only reach a 10th. Then there's me 5'6" tiny fingers, fairly large palms, i can reach a 10th.

There are instances where I wish I had bigger hands, for instance the opening chords of Rach 2. It's perfectly acceptable to arpeggiate them or break them, but it sounds better when you don't have to.

many pieces do require a 9th in various configurations, and most of the time you don't have time to arpeggiate these 9ths.

There are a few pieces that don't give enough time to arpeggiate 10ths, for instance, Scriabin sonata no. 4 ending requires a fairly large 10th (which i can't reach -_- F# to A#) played 3 times at a fairly fast tempo. Also Liszt Vallee D'oberman has a 10th chord somewhere in the left hand that's repeated.

[perfect_pitch]

Honestly? No.

I am 6 ft tall, and for a guy - I have small hands. I can 'just' reach a tenth interval in both hands but it's never stopped me playing anything. I've done Octave glissandos (which were technically 7th glissandos, as I can't do a proper octave glissando - too small). At the speeds I was playing though - you probably couldn't tell.

[werq34ac]

Honestly? No.

 I've done Octave glissandos (which were technically 7th glissandos, as I can't do a proper octave glissando - too small). At the speeds I was playing though - you probably couldn't tell.

I can barely reach a 10th too, but I can do octave glissandos albeit painfully.
Have you tried using the flesh of the thumb and not your thumbnail for octave gliss? its much more painful, but it's easier to pull off i think. Depends on the piano.

[pianoplayjl]

No not really but sometimes it is helpful because it greatly increases your flexibility.

[starstruck5]

Sometimes I wish I had bigger hands - I am just 5-3 and can just about play a tenth - but whenever I feel inadequate I remember this!  Lara was just 5ft tall when she won the BBB YMOFY.

Her hands are about the same size as mine - but much more skilled!