Can't Perform octaves with my right hand

[captainavs]

I recently decided to take up the piano again. I have fairly small hands, but normally, I can reach an octave comfortably with my first and fifth fingers. But about a month ago, I cut the pinky on my right hand quite deep and ever since then, I have not been able to reach an octave with that hand as I cannot bend the very tip of the pinky. I end up not being able to curl the tip of the finger around the 7th note so it sounds terrible. So for instance, if I go to hit a C and a C, it ends up a C with the thumb and a BC with the pinky. My problem is that this isn's simply a matter of small hands. I physically can't move the tip of my finger and after doing research on the topic, it seems I severed the flexor tendons in the pinky. So I was wondering if there is any advice on how to help the situation? For instance, rolling chords instead of full major chords is something I've been trying to do.

[iamazombie911]

It's completely fine to roll chords that you can't reach! There really is no other solution.

[outin]

If you physically cannot, then you must find a way to go round...or play something else.

I guess there's still a slight chance that you finger might partly recover eventually? It's only been a month.

I have a similar issue with my RH pinky added with the thumb tip turning over so that it will play two notes instead of one. So the only way I can play a RH octave is from the edge of the keys, sort of attacking below instead of above. The inside of my thumb is only slightly brushing the key and I need to use considerable muscle power to strech and keep my double-jointed pinky firm enough. With a lot of practice I can manage octave runs this way if they are not too fast. In some pieces this also means moving fast between playing deep into keys (black notes) and on the edge.

I don't think I will ever be able to play octaves cleanly really fast without getting a finger extension...some pieces just don't work without playing the octaves blocked in the normal way so they will be out of my reach and I have accepted that.

[mjames]

Rather than doing your own "research", shouldn't you make an appointment with a doctor or therapist?

And if a specialist tells you that you'll be unable to use your pinky finger properly then find a piano teacher. Finding alternatives that suit YOUR needs is best explained to you in person by a qualified professional. It'd suck if you ended up damaging your hands even further.

Just my two cents of advice.

[outin]

I assumed OP already had medical reatment for the damage if it was severe enough to damage the tendons?

An average doctor is really not interested in whether one can play an octave or not, so it might be a bit challenging to get help from them. They would only be interested whether the finger works well enough in daily life. A specialist who understands musicians challenges would be the best option, but may not be easy to find.

A piano teacher is of course always a good thing to have, but will not necessarily be a quick solution either. Most of them can easily reach octaves, so have little experience working through such issues. My small handed teacher's octave technique does not work for my RH and she didn't have any ready made answer for my issue. I had to work out one myself with her keeping an eye and suggesting improvements and exercises. Had she been less technique focused in general I might have been even more left alone with it.

So in this specific case I don't think it's a bad idea to do some research oneself.