Sweaty hands

[darkrev]

I'm kinda embarassed to share this but whenever I'm about to perform, take a piano exam, or even simply practice, my hands start to sweat.  Sometimes it's just a bit, but other times it really hinders my ability to play accurately cuz my fingers keep on slippling.  My dad has this problem too, darn genes.  Anyway, do you guys have any tips or advice for me? thanks =)

[lenny]

yes it always happens to me when unleashing some fury.

the only thing you can do is carry a clith to wipe down the keyboard and your handz between each piece.

[pianobabe56]

I have a huge problem with this as well, but it's only started happening recently. I don't really have any advice to offer, but I'll second that plea for advice!

[Brian Healey]

Yes, I always use a rag when I'm unleashing my fury 


Ah......couldn't resist that one. I actually have the same problem with sweaty hands sometimes. I think a lot of people do. I think Lenny's advice is about the best thing to do. Many professional pianists have a rag or cloth with them while they play.


Payce,
Bri

[Ziggy]

Yeah it's annoying. Now maybe the thing to do since it's bound to happen in performance is practice with wet hands so you get used to the extra sloppyness that that causes. Never done it, but does anyone think that that could damage the piano?

That that, that that, that that etc

[pianowelsh]

its actually very common. take a handkerchief and wipe the surface of the keys down and your hands before you play (it should be cotton - absords sweat) not something like silk that dosen't really help matters. I found as well if you have a washroom back satge put your hands under the blower as it is a dry heat good if you are in cold venue and your hands tend to get clammy. NB always if you have hanky decide where you will put it before you go on stage i have seen people look around and actually stand up to put back in pocket! I usually tuck it just behind where music desk would usually be but watch it dosent fall on strings or you'll sound like your playing cage!

[lostinidlewonder]

Some antiperspirant spray all over the hands and then some talcum powder. Will be as dry as the desert, if you still sweat that is just incredible. You would never die of thirst in a desert thats for sure.

[rachoff]

If the antiperspirant and talcum powder doesnt work then speak to your doctor about beta blockers if it's a huge problem...they'd fix it right up.

[galonia]

It depends on how extreme your problem is.

One of my high school friends had an extreme sweaty hands problem.  Her hands would sweat non-stop, and she would literally be dripping over a computer keyboard if she was typing, and the pages of all her school books would get wet and so on.  It was like she had washed her hands and not towelled them dry, but all the time.  She couldn't shake hands with anyone.

So a while ago, she had an operation which removes some nerves from somewhere and this stopped the sweating.  I'm not sure how this procedure works.  It's a simple cosmetic procedure, I understand.

But this is only for truly extreme situations, not for hands that get a bit damp and clammy due to nervousness before a performance.

[pianiste]

Hi.  I can understand how annoying it is!  You may want to try followings.

Drionic
https://www.drionic.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.15.exe/hand_foot_sweat.html?L+scstore+qcth4198ff967d96+1129089428

I am using this regularly. This product SAVED MY LIFE.  I don't know if this works for everybody, but at least it wonderfully works for me. 

Odaban
https://www.odaban.com/

I have never tried this, but this treatment would be easier and less expensive than using Drionic.

Hope this information helps