How far do your hands stretch?

I have TINY HANDS. Yeargh. So frustrating. About an octave on each, that's it. I discovered how annoying it is this morning when I was trying to play a chorale on piano and realized that there was a chord I just couldn't play...

yeah... just about nay given song by Chopin is just about impossible for anyone.. i swear his hands were HUGE

Well from what I have read, Liszt had relatively small hands, and yet he is considered one of the greatest pianists ever. So reach isn't everything :)

About six feet, give or take a few inches.

Well from what I have read, Liszt had relatively small hands, and yet he is considered one of the greatest pianists ever. So reach isn't everything :)

He may have had sort of small hands, (his hand casts can attest to this) but I've also heard his hands were structured in a weird way; he had virtually no connective tissue in-between his fingers so they could stretch out and span over a greater distance than normal.

He may have had sort of small hands, (his hand casts can attest to this) but I've also heard his hands were structured in a weird way; he had virtually no connective tissue in-between his fingers so they could stretch out and span over a greater distance than normal.

I knew he had a weird thumb, but I didn't know about the no connective tissue thing. Well you learn something new everyday!

I can reach an octave comfortably in both hands, and a ninth really painfully. :blush:

Left hand is an 11th comfortably, but it depends on the key. In F, I can reach low F to a Bb 11th above fairly easily, but in C, a 9th from low to to D and oct+1 above is as far as I can reach cleanly.

Right hand stops at about a 10 all across, just cause my 5th finger is weak.

A 9th is do-able but a 10th is already painful for me. :(

When I have the money I'll get a Steinbuhler 7/8 Piano :)

I can hit an 11th with both hands.

While on the subject I love writing intervals or 15ths or more (ie impossible for ANYone to play simultaniously) and putting an astrics on the high note inticating to play with your foot...or sometimes the lower note with your nose...just to mix things up a bit...

On a glockenspiel, like 2 octaves

I can typically make a 29th, and sometimes a passable major 30th

... on horn, of course. And this is only with first finger and thumb. :innocent:

... on horn, of course. And this is only with first finger and thumb. :innocent:

Stupid horn rips...

It has to be on horn!

For piano, a 10th. Just barely a 10th.

hmm...I believe it is an octave and ninth barely, but it hurts a little.

... on horn, of course. And this is only with first finger and thumb. :innocent:

On the piano, I can do a 9th pretty easily. 10ths are managable, but not if they have to be played quickly.

hmm...I believe it is an octave and ninth barely, but it hurts a little.

lol..

a 2 octave (and 1 whole tone) stretch? you must have freakishly long fingers :ermm:

Not that anybody cares, but I can reach an eleventh. This doesn't mean I can play an eleventh, but if I hit C with my right thumb and hit an eleventh above it with my left hand, I can stretch my right pinky out to hold it down (and the same with my left thumb, right hand, and left pinky). The farthest I can reach and play without resorting to such methods is a tenth.

hmm...I believe it is an octave and ninth barely, but it hurts a little.

lol..

a 2 octave (and 1 whole tone) stretch? you must have freakishly long fingers :ermm:

It hurts just a little? :toothygrin:

I think he might have meant with both hands... ? If that's true, he must have tiny hands, because I can reach a two octaves and a sixth... i.e., from a C to an A, or a 10th in each hand.

I can reach a minor 10th (such as that from F to Ab) but not a major tenth (such as Eb to G). I can't quite make the 10th from Gb to Bb either, but I'm fine on the white keys. I can get an 11th down using one hand, but it's entirely impractical.

I meant 1 octave and if I try, a ninth, as in an octave + 1 note.. but it hurts.

For some reason I can hit an 11th easily with my left hand, but barely get it with my right hand. My left hand probably has better flexability though because of guitar.

21.5 cm from tip of thumb to tip of fourth (pinky) finger, both hands. My right hand feels more strained than my left at that distance, but they both have the same reach. I'm right handed, and I don't play any stringed instruments regularly.

9th with no problem at all.

10th in "pianistic" segments.

11th with enough time to press 1 key first and then press the 11th while pressing the other key, but not very much or I'll harm my hand.

in other instruments :D (like James.H)........ in E.Bass 19th-21th ... (5 strings bass)

I can reach a 10th comfortably (so I can play it in peices) and barely an 11th - but it hurts and would never work while playing.

I believe I posted here before, but:

An octave. 9ths are, well, pretty uncomfortable. And I can only reach them on a good day