//Answered

[maplecleff1215]

//Answered

[pjjslp]

I have small hands and was a very good pianist in my younger days. The disadvantage to small hands is that some repertoire requires modification or is simply out of reach. I can reach an octave with 1-5 and occasionally 1-4, can play a 9th sometimes (with difficulty not "smashing" other notes in the middle). I've never bothered trying to play much Rachmaninoff, for example. On the other hand, I always thought my hand size was a benefit for playing, say, Mozart and Haydn sonatas. My smaller fingers could move fast and get between the black keys easily.

[opus43]

Baremboim?

[louispodesta]

I can just reach a ninth, but I can only play up to an octave. My fingers don't stretch any farther; I think I've reached the max there. I've already found a couple pieces where I had to make slight edits to the notes in order for me to be able to play them. So it does seem that I will be limited in what I can play, but do you think that there's an advantage to having shorter fingers/smaller hands? Could someone with short fingers still become a very good pianist (not professional, just impressive)?

Would it not be wonderful if, the enormously talented concert pianist who manages this website, posted a notice, (to those who post) to reference prior recent posts on the very same subject?

Therefore, I re-post the following response from me to a "recent" thread from a great pianist "Tiny Hands:"

["1) I wear a lady's wrist watch size band, and I ain't no lady/female.  I have a very small wrist (unlike yourself) with thin and spindly fingers.

2)  Throughout the years (I am 64), I have tried every stretching exercise known to man.  And, in the case of the extreme Brahms Exercises, it almost ruined my hand.

3)  My coach, Dr. Thomas Mark (a former practice coach of Dorothy Taubman), also teaches an Octave Seminar.  He combines the Taubman Technique with the Alexander Technique (all of which you very much need to explore).

4)  Your are welcome to contact him by email at his website (www.pianomap.com), and he will school you in resolving the specifics of your situation (which is very solveable).

For the record, every female student of Fredric Chopin (all aristocrats) had your so-called "tiny hands."  Do not ever use that term again.  Your goal is the true beauty of music.

Accordingly, I list a link, which will show you that most (if not all) of the female pianists of the 19th and early 20th centuries had "tiny hands!"

And, if you desire any further advice, please do not hesitate to contact me by personal message (PM):

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Baremboim?

Lol he's got sausage fingers.

[outin]

From all the research I have seen it seems the optimal piano hands have broad palm with average length fingers. Very long fingers can be more difficult to control than shorter ones, which is obvious considering the mechanics of fingers (the muscles being in the forearm and palm). Narrow palm will reduce the comfortable reach even with longer fingers. People also seem to lack objectiveness when judging the length of fingers: If the hands are huge, the fingers may look short but they can still in reality be longer in length than with someone who has smaller hands with long looking slender fingers.

My teacher has small hands and her fingers are shorter than mine, but it doesn't seem to stop her from playing almost anything. But of course it can be a disadvantage. Nothing to do about it I guess unless one is into bionics...

[maplecleff1215]

I have small hands and was a very good pianist in my younger days. The disadvantage to small hands is that some repertoire requires modification or is simply out of reach. I can reach an octave with 1-5 and occasionally 1-4, can play a 9th sometimes (with difficulty not "smashing" other notes in the middle). I've never bothered trying to play much Rachmaninoff, for example. On the other hand, I always thought my hand size was a benefit for playing, say, Mozart and Haydn sonatas. My smaller fingers could move fast and get between the black keys easily.

I suppose there are advantages and disadvantages for small hands and large hands. c: Regardless, no one will be able to play everything. Thank you for you answer!

[lostinidlewonder]

Yes short fingers are a problem and playing on a normal sized keyboard will always give you difficulties, you can always invest in a narrower keyboard.