Small hand problems on the flute

[@katieflute]

Ugh the small hand struggle is real :,( I’ve been thinking about trying the thumbport since my thumbs are also short. And I can relate about the pinky getting caught between the c/c# key. I’m just glad I’m not a pianist 🤣

[@Piperloumeditation]

Yes I have small hands too and get painful

[@gerjvaj]

You may want to ask your flute tech and see if they can adjust those pinky keys for you. About two months ago, I asked my Flute tech about the possibility of adding in a D# roller. He gave me an alternate option. My Flute tech was a Powell flute maker for many years and he readjusted my whole pinky keys layout so sliding was easier. He said this pinky layout is a very common issue with many flutemakers and when he made flutes, he purposely changed the angle of the lower pinky keys to match better with the Eb pinky key.

[@JustAnotherFlutist]

I like this. Will look into it, thanks!

[@ViktoriousFlutes]

Yep I had to learn some of these hacks by myself because I do have super tiny hands. I lift my pinky when I have fast passages with the E, D, and C notes.

[@MasterWingman]

Great video that not only provided ideas on different fingering technique but also showed admirable determination and understanding that everyone has a different journey.

[@3_up_moon]

There are, in fact, C# rollers available for those of us with tiny fingers! They are only available at the higher end of certain brands.

[@johnrattle9718]

I use both thumbports with great success. Due to a right hand injury, I cannot slide my small finger sideways. My flute tech replaced the lever with extra rollers. So my B foot has 4 rollers which allows my small finger to "roll" forward and back, instead of side to side. Thanks for your great videos.

[@annaprasannanflutist]

I have been playing for 20 years and have a degree. Can relate so much to all of the small hand issues you are experiencing. I have had all of the same issues, and I have pretty much given up playing open holed flute. Even with plugs covered I get easily fatigued hands and wrist. Have a professional flute with most of the holes covered :( I also cheat with removing pinky from E-C to avoid rolling etc. Thanks for sharing this video it was great to see you have found ways to overcome the challenges!

[@JennySnowy]

My hands are small too and a flautist now by hobby but with 20 years of playing...I relate to this so much. At first, I actually grew my nails out a bit but not too long to them to get extra length while still having stability and not look obnoxious for concerts. My pinky nail was longest, I purposely made that particular nail longer because my pinky compares to many 7 year old girl’s pinkies 😂 I would paint them to gain better strength in the nail for the slide you showed.

[@DeltaRana4]

I have the occasional problem of slightly touching the E flat key when playing low C or low B purely because I have small hands (for a man) and even though my right hand is in a natural 90 degree position to the flute I have to move the hand very slightly to the right to make sure I cover the low C and B keys adequately without fouling the E flat key. It's easy to see how tension arises in the hand even though I'm mindful of keeping it relaxed. Of course adding plugs to the right hand keys may help but I don't really like the idea of going back to plugs.

[@Louise-qk2po]

I too have small hands similar size to yours and its why I am learning to play the flute with a Bopep finger thingy for my left hand as well as a finger port for my right hand. Since using these, there is less tension on my hands when playing flute and I also have trigger finger which has not affected my flute playing too much at the moment, because I'm learning. I will be having a steroid injections in about 6 weeks for this. I just managed to play the middle register today for the first time so I am very happy about that too.

[@flutistminhtrang2280]

Wow! Thank you for very informative video, We have exact same problems. I learned so much from your last video about small hand problem and now hopefully it can solve my pinky problem as it is aching sometimes.

[@zypetz]

My pinky aches as well, although it's the right. Sometimes to the point where it just cramps into one position! Does this happen to your right pinky? I have always been trying to find a solution, but nothing seems to work

[@flutistminhtrang2280]

Huark Zolphin hi Huark! Luckily my rh pinky never cramps into 1 position as I always remind myself to relax and make it curve a little during my practice. I think your rh pinky now maybe is too straight sometime. Not sure if you have try out thumb port product. It will help your right hand situation. The only problem with thumb port as it will change your Flute sound. Which I dont prefer so I have to find other way to deal with my rh :( But hope this will help!

[@zypetz]

@@flutistminhtrang2280 thanks so much! I actually have just received the thumbport, which I am still not quite used to. It does really improve my hand position a lot, but I still have quite bit found the perfect position to place it at. Thanks you for the suggestion, I'll keep fiddling around with it

[@madelineb6549]

I have small hands- what helps me a lot with the slide is to turn the foot of the flute inward. So the bar is not lined up with the holes, but is halfway between the holes and the inside edge of the flute. I feel like I'm moving a shorter distance this way. But my flute doesn't have a low b, so that might change things.

[@adeanasczerba3252]

My hands are also super tiny! I got both finger ports and have noticed a tremendous difference! Thank you :)

[@KinodeVGM]

If it weren't for you often talking about this, I'd never have realized my small hands were the problem. In fact, I have a lot of physical difficulties with the flute, because I have a nickel allergy which acts up in my mouth if I play on my flute without silvertape isolating the mouthpiece, and I ended up creating a custom fingerport (which sometimes slides up but welp) and it helps me play a lot more easily. Never again felt that initial pain and sluggishness AND my tone also got a lot better thanks to a more natural angle.

[@harpyeda1473]

yk a little piece of advie.. you can use bamboo flutes if you have metal allergy

[@beckymccarthy7016]

I also have small fingers and after watching your videos I got a thumb rest for my right hand and it’s helped so much! Im not in as much pain and can play for longer! I’m going to try having one on the left hand and see if it helps.

[@flickamina8423]

Same here. And since I started flute, my fingers get tense.

[@24wendy]

I have small hands as well and I use several layers of moleskin padding on where my support fingers lay. Having short fingers is a struggle 😩

[@Piperloumeditation]

Wendy Lu Do you add it to the keys ? Sounds like a great idea . How do you adhere it

[@24wendy]

deb j the padding isn’t for the keys, it’s for the “meaty part” of my left index finger, and the thumb of my right hand. I use moleskin padding which has an adhesive side, and it’s much much cheaper than a thumbport or anything else that is pre made.

[@KinodeVGM]

@@24wendy I also made a custom thumbport with several layers of adhesive tape and some kneadable soft drawing eraser (which acts as a sort of clean, yet sticky clay) to keep it from sliding and to make it not lose the stickyness. It's been an amazing solution so far, although there are some cares needed so it doesn't get dirty where I apply it

[@katharinamarschall5662]

I sympathize with you as another small handed person

[@coleorum]

I don't know whether this would help those with small hands but I wear a short length of chiropodist tubular foam on the bottom of my index finger. This turns my hand slightly and makes playing noticeably more comfortable. You can purchase this in different diameters to suit your finger size (look on e-bay).

[@christinehurley7448]

I use the thumbport exactly the same way for years!!

[@Flavourgirlie]

I asked myself if there were any brands that, narrower valves have, i have played too on a yamaha student flute so far. But now I'm ready for an upgrade, I'm now testing pearl. But it feels like the valves are wider. But it can also be because it's a b foot instead of the c i'm used too.

[@PlanetImo]

My little finger gets stuck between the D# and roller keys, too. I have a closed hole flute, and it’s not in-line so that suits me.

[@mudskipr1]

Yes!!!! I have baby hands and continually hit that dumb trill key with my ring finger. As well, my left ring finger barely reaches the key. Been playing with plugs in the ring finger keys forever. I will try your suggestions and see if it helps!

[@AmericanIsraeliJew]

You make me feel well.

[@user-lx5me5ej2e]

This is so relatable. Also I have clubbed thumbs on top of small hands flute (although I love it) is such a grind sometimes

[@princekatchafire9104]

I play bass flute, and my hands are still a bit big for it😬 it’s an almost right fit. Flute just feels like a piccolo to me lol.

[@ranhill62]

Does the piccolo present similar problems? How about for musicians with larger hands?

[@flute-ee-toot4584]

Randall Hill i have large hands. On flute I feel comfortable and on piccolo it's even more comfortable (surprisingly). I don't think it's harder for people with big hands on piccolo. I think it'd only be harder if they had extremely large fingers because the fingers would be scrunched together. I think it just depends though but this is some input from someone with large hands

[@ecksdee2274]

i have a deformity that makes my right hand fingers swollen looking (theyre super thick). On flute, I feel no problems (except powell sonare flutes which feel like crap on my hands). On piccolo, it depends on the model. Some I felt super squished, but others put more spacing on the right hand and I feel comfortable. It really goes to show you how important it is to play a flute before you buy it because the feel one some piccolos for me is just horrible.

[@odalysayala3245]

I have small hands and I have no problems playing piccolo.

[@nerdgeekcosplay909]

@@flute-ee-toot4584 should it hurt to play flute? I have small hands and I have to stretch my fingers to reach the keys it hurts .

[@Cat-ov2ov]

i have the same issues, i never knew it was because i have small hands but i as well have short thumbs like that and my flute always rests on the meaty part of my finger. i never knew that it was because i have really tiny hands but it might be the cause of some pain that i have when playing, especially when reaching the keys on the footjoint and having such a rigid hand on my Ab

[@brynmarie9655]

I really need to at least get a thumb port lol. The biggest problem for me other than just general tension is that my fingers on my left hand lock up/generally struggle between E and F or F#. Whenever I try things like the Moyse exercises in sharp keys I have a really hard time playing fast and in time. Ugh, the struggle is real

[@bransonbankenbush4887]

I don’t have small hands, but my pinkies are crooked at the tip. My fingers also are very awkwardly shaped. The knuckles are larger and my fingers aren’t straight up and down. So I have to put my foot joint on weird.

[@joaopereiralimafilho9030]

Assisto suas aulas gosto,apesar de não entender o que você fala,mas entendo o som da flauta,é tento lhe imitar,kkkkk obrigado

[@sjramen_]

Well I am very thankful for having big hands and long fingers

[@tpl2000]

I recently got a YFL-281 (used, like new, cheap! Woo!.) But, this is my first open hole flute, and I'm discovering that the distance between the tips of my right pinky and ring is about an inch, making it nigh impossible to keep my fingers over the holes on the right side when trying to do a low C. Aside from plugging the buttons on the right side, do you have any suggestions? My hands are not huge, per se, but they're medium-large. Also, I've been watching your videos off and on since I started playing right before the quarantine began, and I wanted to say that I love hearing you play (:

[@vc9529]

I have small hands and I won the new year new flute and I can NOT cover the holes

[@samnicolson1197]

I had to put plugs in the right hand keys in the end. I have small hands and my 3rd finger and pinky slant towards my second finger. There was just no way I could comfortably play all open hole

[@JariSatta]

12th on the piano outside the keys, 11th on the keys

[@MrsDallimore08]

Oh yes, painful hand strains....I’m actually curious as to your hand measurements? ( tryingtobeaflutist)

[@cbourg1989]

I am toatally the same way especially feeling more comfortable on piccolo than flute

[@pippysmom207]

I have shorter pinkies than you, as well as the same size thumb (i am talking in proportion to other fingers)...what could i do for that?

[@kevinconk8164]

HI JOANNA! I have a question regarding comfort in relation to the footjoints in flutes. I'm looking at buying a muramatsu GX that has a c foot (it's really cheap to buy c foot flutes in the USA) after being on a b foot for years do you think the weight will affect my hands a lot? And is the difference between the foots really important outside of ones taste? I love my b foot flute but the c foot flute sounds a lot more fluid and nuanced. What are your thoughts regarding tastes and preferences on setups that are not as common here in the USA?

[@stephenjablonsky1941]

May I suggest you switch to the trombone?

[@flowerdolphin5648]

I can barely play an octave with one hand on the piano. I have to like stretch it ridiculously much. So my hands are very tiny as well.

[@samnicolson1197]

Same here.

[@graciezagorski1256]

I have really small hands too it gets painful sometimes when I play flute😅😭I was thinking of getting of fingerport

[@NothingButGiggles]

Gracie Zagorski I did it. Best purchase I’ve made for my flute playing in a while

[@annasleighter8769]

My f key is loose, what should I do?!?!?

[@onesmallboi7850]

Hey so I'm playing this piece for my spring concert that is coming up that is a mix of army marches and they're a LOT of 8th notes and sometimes my hands slip up panicing and I end up losing my place any suggestions to what I can do thank you very much and have a amazing day!

[@emilywang8078]

might be a little late but relax your fingers and keep them close to the keys. keeping fingers close to the keys allow you to play faster! and practice with a metronome, first slowly and then faster! good luck!

[@onesmallboi7850]

@@emilywang8078 yeah mate a little very late I already had that concert and another but I appreciate the help and thank you!

[@whiterook2132]

The middle and ring fingers of my hand curl in towards each other. Consequently, because I can't space my fingers properly over the right-hand keys, the trill keys are a major problem. My solution? Shim the trills so they can"t open. Guess I won't be playing any Bach, or whatever. Love your channel.

[@da96103]

Yes I have the same problem too. If I am not careful while playing D and Eb, the sides of of my fingers touches the trill key and open them.

[@matthew0757]

Oh when I tried the flute the high schoolers told me my hands would be to big?! Idk I still play the flute but I need it so my hands don’t slip off the flute

[@DevilSeiji]

And I am here, sitting with my Tenor recorder which has only ONE key

[@1015SaturdayNight]

I have to do this cheat, I have no D sharp roller and tiny hands. Only way I can play Faure Fantasie in E minor

[@petervanderwaart1138]

The problem of your pinkie getting caught between the D# roller and the C# key is not really caused by your small hands. It's caused by the D# roller which "rolls down" on the side. You would not have this problem with a flat D# key. On my (Haynes) flute, the surface of the D# key is always even with , or higher, than the C# key, even when it's depressed.

[@JustAnotherFlutist]

I do have this problem on a flat D# key...

[@sadlittlebirdie]

I feel like I have average sized hands (I'm a 5'7 girl) but I struggle a lot with hitting the low B on my flute ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@da96103]

Is that an embouchure problem or a finger problem?

[@samnicolson1197]

I can get the low B, but the gizmo key for highest C.... nope

[@seangethers9991]

Wus good your videos are awesome just wanted to say that alrighty keep being lit