Different hand sizes?

[starlady]

A question for all Piano Street friends:

Do your hands have different reaches?  And if it is, which hand has the bigger reach--the dominant or the non-dominant? 

I'll start: my left hand can sneak a 10th, my right a 9th (barely)--and I'm right-handed. Which makes no sense to me.  Unless the dominant hand becomes less flexible because it gets used more? 

--s.

[Bob]

Yes, I noticed that a long time ago.  Very weird.

My left can do a tenth.  Right is more like a ninth.  And I'm right handed.

[brogers70]

Ditto. I'm right-handed. My left hand can handle a 2-5 octave, my right cannot.

[outin]

Same here, my left hand has better reach and I am right handed. My explanation is that most music I have played has left hand chords which strech the palm. Also the way I have always used the computer keyboard might be one reason, I use key commands a lot with the left hand that require some streching. So I don't think it's so much a difference in size but the way the hands have been used.

[b_nghiem]

While I too am right handed, I`ve actually found that the farthest that I can reach with any white notes (a tenth) is quite a comfortable stretch, and I can do an 11th with two black keys comfortably in both hands... maybe it`s because of all those Rachamninoff pieces...

[pbryld]

Mine are the same. Maybe due to only playing for a year.

[starlady]

Remarkably consistent! But what do the left-handed people say? -s.

[galuppiforever]

My left hand can also span a little bit more than the right one! I think the more you use your right hand in every-day practise (holding things, ...) the more it will get slightly cramped and therefore the stretch will be reduced!
But this is just a guess! I know of many pianists with a minimally bigger left hand, so this semms very common!

[shanzy]

While I too am right handed, I`ve actually found that the farthest that I can reach with any white notes (a tenth) is quite a comfortable stretch, and I can do an 11th with two black keys comfortably in both hands... maybe it`s because of all those Rachamninoff pieces...

same here, but I think my hands lose their flexibility when I stopped practicing piano ( I play harpsichord now) gees, who knows where would my hands go if I ever played Rachmaninoff

[philb]

I can get a near 13th with my left. I can only reach about a 12th uncomfortably with my right. It might be that the thumb is able to reach further than your pinky.

[jaggens]

Hi,

My both hands can play 10th without a problem and 11th with stretching and effort. But the size of both hands is the same.

Philb, you have really big hands..

Jaak

[pianoplayjl]

I can stretch from a C to an E with both my hands although my left is more flexible. By the way, I'm right handed.