My pinkies hurt

[davidjosepha]

Over the past couple months, I've been playing a ton of piano, and over the past couple weeks, it's been even more than usual, like, 3-4 hours a day on days I have work, and 6+ on days I don't. I've been playing and writing a lot of music that uses loud octaves in both hands, or loud chords that involve and octave stretch or more (some of this music literally involves playing an octave as loud as I physically can). As a result, my pinkies have been hurting, like, "bad hurt", not "sore after workout hurt". I think the problem might be that I'm not curving my pinkies enough, since it's a stretch (I can reach an octave comfortably, but it's still a bit of a stretching feeling--I'd say a 6th or 7th is where my hands lie in a completely relaxed state). My technique hasn't changed significantly in any way recently, so I think it's just the amount I've been playing. In other words, I think my technique isn't perfect with octaves, but my hands can handle it for a couple hours without problem. However, with the amount I've been playing, I don't think my hands can handle it.

Obviously, I stop doing what I'm doing when my pinkies start to hurt...I usually just play things the same but use 4 instead of 5 for everything, when possible. My 4 is much stronger and has never started hurting from playing octaves or anything.

Does anyone have any suggestions to help my technique so I don't hurt myself seriously while playing?

[chauncey]

I'm no expert when diagnosing piano problems, but I'll put my two cents in this. When playing octaves or chords it is soooooooooo important...SOOOO important that you must keep your wrist relaxed. Here try this: Flex your pinky finger and thumb at the same time. Now feel your wrist. It's tensed up isn't it? The thing you want to do is eliminate this "tense-ness" as much as you can when playing octaves or chords. Having a teacher could help you on this or you can consult youtube vids as well. Type in "Piano octave technique" in the youtube search bar and the first few videos are really good on the do's and don'ts of playing octaves.. which can be applied to chords as well!

[nyiregyhazi]

Over the past couple months, I've been playing a ton of piano, and over the past couple weeks, it's been even more than usual, like, 3-4 hours a day on days I have work, and 6+ on days I don't. I've been playing and writing a lot of music that uses loud octaves in both hands, or loud chords that involve and octave stretch or more (some of this music literally involves playing an octave as loud as I physically can). As a result, my pinkies have been hurting, like, "bad hurt", not "sore after workout hurt". I think the problem might be that I'm not curving my pinkies enough, since it's a stretch (I can reach an octave comfortably, but it's still a bit of a stretching feeling--I'd say a 6th or 7th is where my hands lie in a completely relaxed state). My technique hasn't changed significantly in any way recently, so I think it's just the amount I've been playing. In other words, I think my technique isn't perfect with octaves, but my hands can handle it for a couple hours without problem. However, with the amount I've been playing, I don't think my hands can handle it.

Obviously, I stop doing what I'm doing when my pinkies start to hurt...I usually just play things the same but use 4 instead of 5 for everything, when possible. My 4 is much stronger and has never started hurting from playing octaves or anything.

Does anyone have any suggestions to help my technique so I don't hurt myself seriously while playing?

Try the end of this post.

https://pianoscience.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/introduction-to-three-core-posts-on.html

You're probably bracing the hand too much instead of moving the fingers out. If you only brace, momentum goes into a sudden stop and the tightened muscles cause much impact. With the thumb and fifth lengthening out through the keys (even if only slightly) and the wrist rolling a fraction over the top momentum is redirected away from impact. I don't have great octaves yet, but since understanding these issues, I can lift my hand as high as my head and crack it at the keys with all the force I like, without the slightest discomfort.

PS. My most recent post has related exercises that prove that bracing the hand is never as stable or effective as intent to actually move (plus vastly more effort). When the movement is aimed and timed right, it feels almost literally effortless.