How big is your hands

[birba]

Happy easter?  Well, it's late for the christian calendar and early for the russian calendar...I guess you could say we're in the midst of easter!
Who was your grandmother?  She's probably my age...

[pianovlad1996]

Yes, it was an anticipation of Easter. Tomorrow I can't write on the forum. 
My grandmother lives but she's antique-81 years old and quit piano because of arthritis. Are you 81 years old?

[pianowolfi]

My grandmother had a hand span of 26,5 cm and she was a concert pianist. Maybe it is genetically transmitted (the hand span). Period.
PS: Happy Easter everybody!
Timea

Happy easter Timea!

I love Easter! Wish I could travel to Russia and celebrate it again!

[pianovlad1996]

It is mine too. It is the most colourful celebration (hope that is the word- I'm a nightmarish english learner.)
 TimeaB

[littletune]

My grandmother lives but she's antique-81 years old and quit piano because of arthritis. Are you 81 years old?

No he's like 20 years younger, he just likes to make himself older.   I don't know maybe I'm really weird, but 81 doesn't seem that old to me...   ok well maybe it's old, but not antique!   I would say maybe 80 is old, 100 is very old and then 120 is antique!    

[littletune]

I have actually a 12 year old female student who can reach a tenth

But can she only touch the keys or can she REALLY play that, without pressing any other keys?

[pianowolfi]

It is mine too. It is the most colourful celebration (hope that is the word- I'm a nightmarish english learner.)
 TimeaB

I don't know if it's the "correct" word (I am no native English speaker too) but yes, to me it is also very colourful! And full of hope! Spring, flowers, green, colours, everything comes to life again!

[pianowolfi]

But can she only touch the keys or can she REALLY play that, without pressing any other keys?

She can play it touching the (white) keys right at the edge. I am similar, I can't reach a tenth from d to f# and I can't reach a tenth properly without hitting other keys if I am playing inside of the keys. But her handspan is a bit smaller than mine, still.

[piano_vs_science]

I have actually a 12 year old female student who can reach a tenth

 

[iratior]

I can do nothing bigger than the major tenth from F# to A#.  It sure would be nice if it were longer.  Then I could do the Fats Waller pieces I like so much.  And don't tell me that people who can stretch twelfths with ease don't have an advantage when it comes to playing Chopin opus 10 number 1.  I wonder what Ruth Slenczynska's hand span is.

[piano_vs_science]

have you tried tying chopsticks to the end of your fingers???

[49410enrique]

become a brilliant pianist in minutes, seemed appropriate given the main theme of the thread lol

the origianl 'big hands' routine

[costicina]

 
I'm sure you know -- and like  -- the 'Japanese version:

[birba]

become a brilliant pianist in minutes, seemed appropriate given the main theme of the thread lol

the origianl 'big hands' routine

Aw!  it's been disactivated.  I've seen the japanese version.  I was curious about this "original" one.

[49410enrique]

Aw!  it's been disactivated.  I've seen the japanese version.  I was curious about this "original" one.

hmm it was working just fine yesterday, unless the user got shut down for copyright stuff, youtube has 'autobot' scanners that will label you guilty of cr infringement first and make you prove innonce later to reactivate your account. i'll try it again later.

edit. just checked seems to be working find now

[johnmar78]

I'm sure you know -- and like  -- the 'Japanese version:

after a tiring day back from work, just saw this by accident.this was really really funny..thanks Costica.....

[littletune]

Aw!  it's been disactivated.  I've seen the japanese version.  I was curious about this "original" one.

No Birba! It's not disactivated, you just have to watch it on youtube, you just need to click one more time on the video and then it opens in youtube. 

She can play it touching the (white) keys right at the edge. I am similar, I can't reach a tenth from d to f# and I can't reach a tenth properly without hitting other keys if I am playing inside of the keys. But her handspan is a bit smaller than mine, still.

That's cool.  Is she tall? Well maybe I could almost do it that way too, just very slowly and carefully  but that probably wouldn't be very practical while playing a piece...  but there's no way I could reach from d to f# !!! not even while hitting other keys! and I'm really tall! 

[piano_vs_science]

looks like I have the smallest handspan of barely 9 keys
_{why didn't I stick to science??? i just HAD to play piano}

[ronniemilsont]

There is a connection between dimension and side dimension. I am only 5'8" and do not have huge arms. So whenever someone would create disparaging feedback about them, I'd silently take away and take out them from my lifestyle.

[vsrinivasa]

I can reach about a twelfth or a thirteenth if I really stretch on white keys, so about 24-25 cm? I have long and flexible fingers though, so.....

Stupid Piano Forum won't upload my image. Can someone help me?

[rachmaninoff_forever]

I can reach about a twelfth or a thirteenth if I really stretch on white keys, so about 24-25 cm? I have long and flexible fingers though, so.....

Stupid Piano Forum won't upload my image. Can someone help me?

WHAT?!?!?!

What I do is I go to photo bucket and make an account.  Then I upload my photo on to there and copy and paste the image code on to here.  I know, it's kind of a hassle...

[vsrinivasa]

WHAT?!?!?!

What I do is I go to photo bucket and make an account.  Then I upload my photo on to there and copy and paste the image code on to here.  I know, it's kind of a hassle...

Yeah, that's kind of a hassle. And anyway, I can't find my camera, so that I can access the photo... (I deleted it by mistake on my computer)

[vsrinivasa]

WHAT?!?!?!

What I do is I go to photo bucket and make an account.  Then I upload my photo on to there and copy and paste the image code on to here.  I know, it's kind of a hassle...

Oh, and what does your WHAT?!?!?! refer to?

[serenecheah]

Mine was only 17cm...better than nothing...

[vsrinivasa]

Mine was only 17cm...better than nothing...

Definitely better than nothing. Huge hands are a nuisance, as is being tall. I'm 6'7" and it's really annoying to be tall. Especially because I am from India and so am not "supposed" to be very tall...

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Definitely better than nothing. Huge hands are a nuisance, as is being tall. I'm 6'7" and it's really annoying to be tall. Especially because I am from India and so am not "supposed" to be very tall...

Ah, how much better I would be at basketball if I was as tall as you...

[vsrinivasa]

Ah, how much better I would be at basketball if I was as tall as you...

I never liked any sort of sports. I jog to keep fit.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

I never liked any sort of sports. I jog to keep fit.

Well I don't play basketball much often.  Only to lay down the law every once in a while to remind some people who's boss.  *cracks neck*

Now skateboarding is where it's at!  Contrary to popular belief, you don't hurt yourselves often.

[vsrinivasa]

Well I don't play basketball much often.  Only to lay down the law every once in a while to remind some people who's boss.  *cracks neck*

Now skateboarding is where it's at!  Contrary to popular belief, you don't hurt yourselves often.

I am still not really into sports, but my height makes piano playing very annoying sometimes. And I'm always intimidating people.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

I am still not really into sports, but my height makes piano playing very annoying sometimes. And I'm always intimidating people.

How much do you freaking lower the bench?  And how far do you sit away from the piano?

My former teacher was like 6'6 and every time I would have to freaking ask him to adjust the bench so much before every lesson.

[vsrinivasa]

How much do you freaking lower the bench?  And how far do you sit away from the piano?

My former teacher was like 6'6 and every time I would have to freaking ask him to adjust the bench so much before every lesson.

I sit something like 3 to 4 inches further back than a male person of normal height (about 5'10" to 6'), and have to lower the bench really far, but then my legs are way too close to the ground so I raise the seat, but then my hands are naturally above the keyboard. So it's a paradox.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

I sit something like 3 to 4 inches further back than a male person of normal height (about 5'10" to 6'), and have to lower the bench really far, but then my legs are way too close to the ground so I raise the seat, but then my hands are naturally above the keyboard. So it's a paradox.

I like to sit as low and as close to the piano as possible like Glen Gould. 

So we're opposites.

[oxy60]

I sit something like 3 to 4 inches further back than a male person of normal height (about 5'10" to 6'), and have to lower the bench really far, but then my legs are way too close to the ground so I raise the seat, but then my hands are naturally above the keyboard. So it's a paradox.

Raise the keyboard/piano. My knees always hit the underside of the piano so I put blocks under the casters.

[lostinidlewonder]

I can cover 1/3 of the piano with my hands.

[j_menz]

I can cover 1/3 of the piano with my hands.

Upright, baby G or concert G?

In any case, that must be a record. 

[evitaevita]

Well, I have small hands. I can reach a 9th quite easily, but, as for a 10th, I can't reach it...

[vsrinivasa]

Well, I have small hands. I can reach a 9th quite easily, but, as for a 10th, I can't reach it...

Your hands really aren't that small, then. I know several people who can't reach an octave.

[vsrinivasa]

Raise the keyboard/piano. My knees always hit the underside of the piano so I put blocks under the casters.

Good tip. I tried it on my upright, which is what I usually do private practice on (I also have a Bosendorfer Model 225 and a Steinway Model D), but the pedals are now uncomfortably high. I find that on the two grands the leg/hand issue is less extreme due to the way the keyboard is set up, so I haven't had to raise them.

[oxy60]

Good tip. I tried it on my upright, which is what I usually do private practice on (I also have a Bosendorfer Model 225 and a Steinway Model D), but the pedals are now uncomfortably high. I find that on the two grands the leg/hand issue is less extreme due to the way the keyboard is set up, so I haven't had to raise them.

Now with thinner keyboards set up is easier. Mine is totally component based. Everything is adjustable and the pedal sits on the floor.

[vsrinivasa]

Now with thinner keyboards set up is easier. Mine is totally component based. Everything is adjustable and the pedal sits on the floor.

OK, that explains something. I have a Bosendorfer upright with an adjustable bench, but pretty much nothing else is adjustable, so raising the piano makes the pedals uncomfortably high.

[teran]

I can reach a 10th viably, and an 11th I can technically reach but I would say it's strained and just not feasible in actual playing.

Funnily enough the the pianos that Liszt and co used had thinner keys, so even though my hand is about 0.4cm bigger, it doesn't really give me any sort of stretch advantage because the size of the keys balance that out.

But then again we all know not to judge someone by the size of their hands...

[chopianologue]

18 cm, reach 9th. Maybe 10th in a good day.

[serenecheah]

Definitely better than nothing. Huge hands are a nuisance, as is being tall. I'm 6'7" and it's really annoying to be tall. Especially because I am from India and so am not "supposed" to be very tall...

woah~you are tall...i m only 5'5''. But there is always advantages and disadvantages for being short or being tall...its just how you see it...^^ example: (its good to be short because they say short people live longer life) (its good to be tall because you can have long nice leg) ^^ right?

[vsrinivasa]

woah~you are tall...i m only 5'5''. But there is always advantages and disadvantages for being short or being tall...its just how you see it...^^ example: (its good to be short because they say short people live longer life) (its good to be tall because you can have long nice leg) ^^ right?

I guess so. My family in general is tall, but I am still incredibly tall, even by the standards of my family. I don't really get this whole thing like "If your genes make you short you will also live long" or "If you have wide fingernails you are at risk of heart disease (I actually read that somewhere)". There are always an incredibly large number of exceptions. I also have big hands for my family.

[vsrinivasa]

I like to sit as low and as close to the piano as possible like Glen Gould. 

So we're opposites.

Well, not really, I'm just taller than you and therefore need more room to put my legs. So I sit really far back and lower the bench, but not too far, because then my legs bend under me because they are too close to the ground.

[nd33]

I can reach a tenth octave, but I need to stretch to do it. I can reach a ninth comfortably. My hands are about 18 cm. in height.

[h_chopin148]

I can just reach a 9th easily. I can sort of reach a 10th like C to E. My hand is 17.5 cm.