I’ll dive into how hand size and finger length play pivotal roles in a pianist’s ability to perform complex pieces with ease and precision. By shedding light on this often-overlooked aspect, you’ll gain a deeper appreciation for the art and techniques that elevate a musician’s execution from admirable to truly remarkable.
About Piano Keyboard Sizes
The prevalence of a “one size fits all” piano keyboard over the last century has restricted both the pianist’s skills and the diversity of music played. It’s surprising, especially since many other musical instruments are constructed or modified to fit people of various sizes.
At a Glance: Piano Keyboard Sizes and Pianists with Small Hands
- The “one size fits all” piano keyboard can limit pianists with small hands and short fingers, impacting their ability to play certain music pieces comfortably or at all.
- Hand span differences exist between genders and races, affecting a pianist’s reach and tension needed to play octaves and larger chords.
- Modern solutions include narrower keys and customized keyboards, such as the DS 5.5 and DS 6.0, designed to accommodate smaller hand spans.
- Practical tips for small-handed players include performing stretching exercises, moving up the keyboard, choosing suitable repertoires, inverting or breaking up chords, omitting notes, and considering a custom-sized keyboard.
- Historical and social factors influenced the standardization of keyboard sizes, with earlier periods offering more variety in keyboard sizes to suit different players before standardization centered around male performers.
The piano, first invented in the 1700s, has transformed significantly across the years. Initially offering various sizes to cater to social classes, with smaller versions for women’s private use, the piano eventually adopted a standard size in the 1880s to accommodate men, likely due to their public performance roles. Influential figures like Anton Rubinstein and Frank Liszt, famed 19th-century virtuoso pianists, played key roles in shaping the piano’s design during this era. Manufacturers leveraged their fame, organizing tours and building concert halls, to elevate their products’ market presence.
Hand Span and Piano Keyboard Sizes & Octaves
The hand span measures from the little finger’s tip to the thumb’s tip, varying between men and women. Typically, women have smaller hands and thus shorter spans than men, but there are exceptions with 85% of women and 25% of men having smaller spans. Also, Asians tend to have smaller hands compared to Caucasians. This difference makes playing an octave on a piano challenging, if not impossible, for those with smaller hands since keyboards favor larger hands and longer fingers.
A standard keyboard features 88 keys, with 52 white and 36 black ones, spanning over seven octaves plus three extra notes below the lowest C. Each octave includes five black and seven white keys. Historically, octave spans varied from 125mm (4.9 inches) to 170mm (6.7 inches), but modern keyboards maintain a consistent span of 164-165mm (about 6.5 inches). Adding a ninth, tenth, or eleventh note increases the span to 7.6, 8.5, and 9.4 inches, respectively.
With a hand span of 6.5 or 6.7 inches, reaching an octave becomes easier. A longer hand span means you can hit the 9th more comfortably, lightly stretch to the 10th, and maybe even touch the 11th without much strain.
A small hand, with a span of less than 8.5 inches, finds it challenging to play quick octave passages and big chords, often hitting unintended keys while stretching. Men typically have a hand span an inch larger than women, allowing for an easier reach of an extra white key on the piano. Some men have hands three inches larger, significantly easing playing.
Historically, since most compositions were crafted by men, they were also the ones primarily viewed as professional musicians. Women, on the other hand, were often limited to amateur status.
Classical Pianos with Narrower Keys
Josef Hofmann, a Polish American with small hands, became a renowned pianist, shocking many. Starting as a child prodigy, he amazed audiences including Rubinstein with his performance by age five and embarked on a European tour at nine. He was Rubinstein’s sole private student and later inspired Steinway & Sons to create a piano with narrower keys to accommodate his unique need.
Recently, piano manufacturers, including American pioneer David Steinbuhler, responded to musicians’ demands for more accessible instruments. Steinbuhler, inspired by concert pianist Christopher Donison’s struggle with traditional keyboard sizes, collaborated with him to create pianos with narrower keys. They introduced models like the DS 7/8 and DS 15/16, later renamed DS 5.5 and DS 6.0, reflecting the octave span to suit players with smaller hands.
Kawai Australia created a custom grand piano with narrow keys in 2013, specifically for Australian pianist Erica Booker.
Practical Tips for Pianists with Small Hands and Short Fingers
A smaller hand span can make playing some classical pieces difficult and may even lead to hand injuries when trying to reach the 10th or 11th key. Research indicates that having small hands increases the risk of piano-related injuries. To boost your playing abilities, consider these tips:
Perform Stretching Exercise for Your Hands and Fingers
Begin by resting your pinky or thumb on the C key and stretch your hand across the keyboard. Practice playing pieces and scales with octaves, gradually speeding up. Remember to regularly massage your hands and avoid overstretching. Despite having medium-sized hands, Chopin achieved 10th intervals through finger flexibility.
Move Up the Keyboard as You Play
Place your fingers higher up between the black keys rather than at the edge, making it easier to reach most keys. This technique may feel strange initially, but you’ll quickly adapt to this more effective position.
Choose A Repertoire That Suits You
Famous composers like Rachmaninoff and Liszt, known for their large hand spans reaching the 13th octave, composed classical music that today presents challenges due to keyboard standardization. Earlier, some great pieces were written for smaller keyboards, making current versions trickier. If these pieces feel too tough, choose works from composers with a hand span of a 12th or 9th, which might be more accessible and enjoyable to play.
Invert or Break Up The Chords
Struggling with chords? Try inverting them by shifting the lowest note up an octave, or split them so each note plays consecutively. You could also adjust your finger placement. If all else fails, use a single finger to strike two notes. Experiment to find what works best for you.
Omit The Notes
Omitting notes doesn’t mean ruining the music, but you should take care with this approach. It’s better to collaborate with your teacher to ensure you don’t spoil the piece’s beauty while adapting it for your style.
Use A Custom-Sized Keyboard
You don’t have to settle for a one-size-fits-all keyboard when playing your favorite compositions. A custom keyboard with narrower keys can ease the stretch for chords and octaves, allowing for a more relaxed hand and minimizing the risk of pain and injury from fingertips to forearm. Thankfully, several manufacturers offer such customization. While it might be a significant investment, the benefits for your playing comfort and health are undeniable. Explore your options online to find the perfect fit for you.