Gershwin's Prelude II--how?!

[chopintod]

Howdy all...trying Gershwin's preludes.  I like Prelude II (Blue Lullaby), but...I can't play it.  No, really, I can't.  My left hand fingers can't reach the bass line notes; for instance, in the first measure, you have to play C# and then E, one octave higher.  I have big hands, but...I just can't reach it!  At all!  I've begun to resort to simply playing the E instead of C# + E, but this doesn't sound as nice.  Any suggestions?

Terry

[BoliverAllmon]

finger extensions.

[abe]

that's not very much of a stretch
just over a ninth
with big hands you should be fine
if you cant reach then don't play

[Bob]

Break the notes up, "roll" them, play the lower note like a grace note into the upper note.  But then you have to do that on all the notes that are like that in order for it to sound correct.

[nicko124]

Howdy all...trying Gershwin's preludes.  I like Prelude II (Blue Lullaby), but...I can't play it.  No, really, I can't.  My left hand fingers can't reach the bass line notes; for instance, in the first measure, you have to play C# and then E, one octave higher.  I have big hands, but...I just can't reach it!  At all!  I've begun to resort to simply playing the E instead of C# + E, but this doesn't sound as nice.  Any suggestions?

Terry

Hi Terry. See https://www.pianoworld.com/ubb/ubb/ultimatebb.php?/topic/29/51.html for my tips on Prelude 2.

In summary i found the C Sharp to E Natural stretch difficult at first and was considering breaking them. However i just practiced stretching my hand to reach it over and over until one day i could reach it comfortably. That may not work for everybody but it has for me. It is a real shame if you can't reach it as it sounds bad broken (see the recording on the link).

For the other stretches you can actually use your right hand to help the left hand make them, but this will be impossible in the second section where the right hand is more complicated.

Good Luck