Your Hands Are NOT Too Small!

[@mickeymicks7071]

Thank you for making this video as a 22 yr old with baby hands (literally everyone who meets me points that out 😂I'm tired of it) I sometimes get discouraged thinking I couldn't play well ! But I'm now feeling more motivated!!!

[@djpollo2474]

Did you keep playing?

[@mickeymicks7071]

@@djpollo2474 lol funny you ask now 😂 since I started working I've not touched the piano in months, I learn by muscle memory since I can't read sheet music, hopefully I haven't forgotten too much

[@mickeymicks7071]

@@chopholtz4950 what???

[@katttttt]

​@@mickeymicks7071hm just guessing but I think he has smaller hands compared to his body size

[@Uncle_Bob_K]

I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one that has to 'cheat" by playing octaves at the very tip of the keys like that. I have smaller hands and for me, trying to play the octave over the keys, I usually hit the second or seventh key while playing the octave over the top of the keys. Even then, it's still a stretch for me.

[@heartyandsnowballgirl158]

Thanks! I struggle for doing octaves and my veins always pain after I play songs, and with watching you, that reduced! Thank you so much 😊

[@Mr850man]

When I can't reach the notes I use my nose. I have broken it twice

[@Daanlikkewaan]

I just roll my face all over the keys

[@horaceh3948]

@@Daanlikkewaan wow 2 talented rappers

[@horowitz8680]

now that's out of the box thinking right there

[@asgarlimedia]

Noted. Thanks.

[@spark_art1]

Fun fact. It’s not the hand that are the problem it’s the keys. The reason why Chopin and Beethoven were so good is be cause the keys were smaller or they just made them the right size for there hands. “Music basics” another pianest did a documentary on the keyboard with narrower sized keys . Now you don’t have to feel bad if you can’t play Beethoven ridiculously hard pieces.

[@88steps81]

That's the issue. Of course we can try rolling, jumping, swaping or skipping notes but that's not best solution. Keyboard size is discussed way less that it should. I can't belive that PASK managed to get only ~2k votes for their initiative that might bring the subject of changing standard 6.5 keyboard to the light

[@orebelo]

Well, that's not true, or at least not quite true. Piano keyboard sizes used to vary before becoming a de facto standard (165 mm per octave) in the late 19th century, but to a small degree. They generally varied between 158 and 165 mm. This helps a little, but for a modern 23.5mm key, 7mm at most for the entire octave is still not significant. If you read somewhere that the octave of Chopin's piano is equal to 6 white keys on the modern piano, it's miss information.

[@mikelmao.]

yes, hand size does matter if you are going for virtuoso. It is impossible to keep your hands relaxed while playing rapid octaves or ninths if you have small hands. your best bet is to find a smaller-sized piano of some sort if possible.

[@applejuices]

Yeah it really does. My biggest stretch is a 10th from C to E and I have found some passages that are nearly impossible to play.

[@Simon-xl1yz]

You heard it guys! Size doesn't matter.

[@ryanxiety4121]

Girlfriends around the world would like to disagree

[@teish8393]

She lyin

[@ValkyRiver]

Anyone who says that size doesn’t matter REALLY needs to try NARROW KEYS

[@orebelo]

This subject is always approached with the same excuses but the truth is that size matters. You can use as many trick/maneuver as you want, keeping other variables under control, if you had a greater reach, in addition to being less prone to injuries, you would have a greater performance. This is physics! Usain Bolt took advantage of the height and greater leg-to-body ratio and Michael Phelps also took advantage of the length of his arms and torso. Likewise, all pianists with long, thin fingers also have an advantage. This doesn't mean you can't play the piano, and if you're really good, you might even be able to play better than most, but that's until you find someone who is equally good but has a physical advantage. Just accept this fact, stop crying and if you really love to play piano, study/train as much as possible with wich you literally have at hand.

[@nova4101]

Perfect timing! I just got my piano yesterday. One of the first things I did is see how far I can reach. I can comfortably play an octave by playing it at the very tip of the keys, but I really have to stretch to play a ninth.

[@gauravprakash8007]

Hey , you guys are amazing. The content is superb. I have request : can you guys make a series on harmonizing

[@yuri6642]

Thank you, like seriously! I found your channel like months ago and I can't believe it's so underrated. I hope many people who want to play the piano would find your channel, bc you really helped me so so much throughout the way. Last thing, sincerely, thank you for all the free content in your videos and sheets that most KZbin channels want us to pay for. This channel absolutely needs more recognition, keep doing the good work!

[@ericmitchell9331]

I've got small hands, but didn't realize it while growing up and learning to play the piano. I just kept playing and figured out how to make it work. It was only when I was an adult that i realized that a lot of great players often have gigantic hands. Oh well. Appreciate the video!

[@marksgameoflife8446]

Great intro with "Does size matter!?" Also the tip with the 7th chord really helped me when you showed how the inversion is much simpler. Still love the expressive way you use your small hands to explain things. Thanks for making learning to play fun and easy!

[@TheSIGHTREADINGProject]

Same - I’m on 7ths. Procrastinating with a coffee right now as it happens 😂

[@antonioamezquita5139]

Sharing is caring! How lovely teacher she is!

[@e.castlerock8454]

Thank you! Not only am I short, but I also have small hands, and I hate both! I can reach an octave by playing at the edge of the keys, but many times (especially, playing fast), I also hit the adjacent keys. Also, even if I can make a stretch to play a chord, my 2, 3 or 4 fingers cannot always play the notes between fingers 1 and 5. Maybe I'm just not flexible. There's no way I can play even an easy version of Moonlight Sonata. Love your videos. By the way, your voice many times goes softer, and I have to keep backing up to listen again. Maybe that's just me as I've never seen anyone mention this.

[@dimitreze]

size matters Maria João Pires can't play some Chopin songs because her hands are too small

[@azurite6452]

Thank you so much! I've ridiculously small hands for an adult and I've been worried that I won't be able to play certain things. You've put my mind at rest. I've also joined your online course and I'm enjoying it very much!

[@PianoteOfficial]

Yay welcome!! I'm so glad you're enjoying it. Remember we're here for you if you EVER have questions! And feel free to pop into our weekly live Q&A sessions :)

[@ValkyRiver]

@@PianoteOfficial Have you heard of pianos with narrower keys?

[@Fliegenpilz_Pilz]

Thanks for the tips, but why are there no pianos with smaller keys? Would be awesome!!!

[@seabrookel5037]

There are! :) KZbinr @musicalbasics has one with keys that are like 7/8th size or something? 3/4 size? I am realizing I need to go find that video and find out where he bought his cuz I want one too. 😆

[@aloha1005]

Very good tips, Lisa. Thanks

[@JujYFru1T]

I dunno Lisa, I think my hands are tinier than yours (any other preemies here or...). That edge trick is super useful!! I can't get around the automatic tension when I have to stretch that far, so that'll save me some fatigue ^_^

[@jo6731]

I know I'm coming in late, but I have tiny hands and am trying to learn "Don't Stop Believin'" but the octaves hate my wee digits. I'm also a preemie. My thumb and pinky are at 180 degrees.

[@glamourandmoore]

THANK YOU! My hands are the same size as yours. I can't reach a 9th at all. Just a basic octave can be painful sometimes. Any tips for doing fast octave runs up the piano for small hands?? Thanks!

[@johnelmersantos4842]

I love this channel so much!!!!!!!!

[@synchro505]

This video reminded me to practice chord inversion drills.

[@timvivoda5208]

Well would you prefer a free grand piano or a free harmonica .great lesson Tim from Australia .

[@clintonglasener9866]

This is EXACTLY what I have been trying to improve on this week and I use the same edge of the key method you use but thank you so much for sharing this helpful video! I love being subscribed to your channel!

[@ambarishroul7278]

Wow that 9th chord goose bumps Can you make a lesson on extended chord which goes beyond 7th chords .

[@PianoteOfficial]

They're so lovely right! We have a few lessons on chord extensions: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5LKnq1oob-ed68 kzbin.info/www/bejne/pnjPm4lpert_aZI

[@VyNguyen-yo7lp]

Those tips are really helpful. Thank you so much

[@zee9134]

when you want to play Rachmaninoff but you have small hands :”(

[@microitos9754]

Don’t be discouraged. Few people are 6’6” 💀

[@ryanpatterson9526]

I'm always jealous of some piano KZbinrs who have gigantic hands. They make it look so much easier!

[@samsonjohn8570]

New day new thing to learn thanku...

[@andywoodward3097]

Can you do a video for those of us with clumsy meat paws who lack the dexterity to keep each finger in its lane? Thank you in advance :)

[@bestledisthe]

Practice Hanon

[@PianoteOfficial]

Haha we have a great finger independence challenge that might help: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fqKYpKdmq917aqs

[@TheSIGHTREADINGProject]

‘Meat paws’This made me chuckle! ☺️

[@mr.shredder5430]

Great tutorial

[@michaelelliott4224]

Playing 2 Octaves on my major scales with both hands has been tough since I have short fingers. Could you make me a piano practice plan if I send you some videos of how I play the piano? I want to get good enough so that when I go back to college I'll be in good shape. I'm working through Alfred's Group Piano for Adults book 1 second edition.

[@musicmelany]

JUST WHAT I NEEDED❤️🙏

[@saladmaster3496]

its not that i have small hands...... i have HUGE NAILS!!!!!

[@aanshuk]

You could always trim your nails.

[@keithkunikida1222]

Same as me MÄN

[@payes1ytp717]

Cut them

[@TheSIGHTREADINGProject]

Thanks! I’ve just reached the page on root 7ths! Yeow!

[@PianoAwesome]

Share the work... I like that!

[@ma.rowellababalo1960]

Thank you for sharing your talents

[@esolc100]

Thanks and also, I love the Palm Tree

[@jeffh5388]

Great info. Thank you.

[@scottm4267]

great video. thank you

[@atrocious_pr0xy]

Thank you. My hands are not necessarily small, but i work hard at my job and my hands hurt when stretching them..this should help.

[@cariboux2]

Thank you very much! Excellent info!

[@vlaseansmithen3305]

Thanks you so much! I remember asking that same question in an earlier video and it has been answered :)

[@campersand2]

"Size doesn't matter" hits gently.

[@liyakatbawade3546]

Thanx

[@yojimmcjapan7767]

Thank you, I can take a lot away from this lesson.🤗🌈

[@રાગા-RaaGaa]

you cant always play keys on the edge. for eg. a b minor or major or f sharp major... for octaves

[@GeorgetMarks]

This really helps, but I need to play a 9th chord, and my left hand is occupied. What should I do?

[@hangron814]

Thank you for all the tips Lisa ! You are Amazing Teacher...I love the way you teach . I learns "Hallelujah" from you (Got it) Thanks again . Greeting from Toronto Canada :)

[@theodorerodas8797]

Thanks girl

[@cuzcocostco9513]

OMG YES THANK YOU!!

[@acheron4444]

Nice advices, nice teacher

[@mauricioflores3732]

PLEASE, I beg to you to play a solo for 10 minutes at least. 👏🏻

[@user-bs4rj1uu8n]

The longer you play piano, your hand muscles kind of stretch and become more flexible which makes it easier to reach octaves

[@juliejules7780]

What if you still can't reach it even if you stretch? Can we omit octaves?

[@jacksonroberts8814]

Please make a video about playing with big fingers that don’t fit between the black keys. I’m really struggling with my big fingers.

[@christianboutonnet1381]

Excellent...

[@benjaminbrown5245]

I don’t know how many times people have come to me and said this hahahaha!!! “I can’t play piano because I have to have long fingers!!” I say to them. “No... it takes effort on your part, but doesn’t matter how long or short your finger are. You can do it.” I don’t have the shortest finger i have very long fingers but they are fat hahahaha!!! Good for playing piano but this doesn’t mean at all like you stated on the video that someone with short fingers can’t play. I always tell people don’t tell yourself you can’t because you probably won’t do it. Tell yourself you can. Their is a will their is a way. Great video Lisa!!! Keep it up. Or the other thing I get too from people is they wil say “oh. You have great piano playing hands, but I don’t have the fingers like you do to play.” That gets me very time. I say back to them. “Yes. You can do it you just have to bee determined and willing to put forth effort and good hard work.” Doesn’t matter the finger length. Hahahaha!!

[@JustForTheLooks]

And what if it's larger than an octave?

[@whosab]

Can you do a tutorial on when there was me and you by Vanessa Hudgens on the piano

[@jmcg8306]

Small hands represent! 🖐🏼Thank you!

[@amvlogs2095]

Wow this was inspiratinal😗😗

[@joginderkumar3765]

Very nice

[@Coouge]

Can’t reach A2 and C4 :(

[@ValkyRiver]

You can on a 7/8 size keyboard!

[@Yuheon]

Thank you really, I’m gonna practice your tips for sure! ❤️✨

[@doomus_]

"just use a pedal" me with a midi: *sobbing on the floor*

[@Isingbadbutiamaswiftie]

I have small hands. Thank you for this video

[@juicymuscprod9624]

So if I have small hands and can barely pass an octave, I can still play atinpianos cover of order 66? (The one from the movies, not the clone wars show)

[@FavJam]

Your hands are by no means small. They’re average size. I have small hands and your hands are huge compared to mine. It grinds my gear.

[@jasonb5596]

I'm having trouble with big chords that include flats. Playing B flat and D flat with my 1 and 5 and my 3 on the F keys.

[@kimjongun5073]

maybe because the keys and music were not designed for small hands. there are pianos with smaller keys

[@ValkyRiver]

Perfect. We need more narrow keys.

[@hearitplayit1049]

I tell my students this all the time!

[@raquelchicajazz121]

So my hands are small and eventually managed to play legato octaves but am having a hard time doing salsa patters with octaves - its more of a struggle with the inner fingers. Any suggestions on how to approach this?

[@justinle6295]

How do I play on my left hand: a, e, C sharp chord? It’s literally too far for me

[@ValkyRiver]

Narrow keys?

[@literallyamonkey881]

What about Rachmaninoff?

[@englishrosemania1045]

That's my big problems, thanks.

[@ariellelosar3726]

omg I've been playing for YEARS and I didn't think of this... I would just avoid octaves because my hands are tiny 😭

[@orebelo]

This subject is always approached with the same excuses but the truth is that size matters. You can use as many trick/maneuver as you want, keeping other variables under control, if you had a greater reach, in addition to being less prone to injuries, you would have a greater performance. This is physics! Usain Bolt took advantage of the height and greater leg-to-body ratio and Michael Phelps also took advantage of the length of his arms and torso. Likewise, all pianists with long, thin fingers also have an advantage. This doesn't mean you can't play the piano, and if you're really good, you might even be able to play better than most, but that's until you find someone who is equally good but has a physical advantage. Just accept this fact, stop crying and if you really love to play piano, study/train as much as possible with wich you literally have at hand.

[@johnelmersantos4842]

Is it okay to practice every other day??

[@abrannan]

It’s better than practicing every third day, or once a week, or never. Do what you can. One note: studies have shown that shorter, more frequent practice sessions can be better for music and second languages. So, instead of aiming for an hour a day, aim for 4, 15 minute practice sessions.

[@PianoteOfficial]

Andrew has great advice!

[@johnelmersantos4842]

Pianote who’s andrew???

[@johnelmersantos4842]

Oh! Didn’t see, thank andrew!!

[@cletusbeauregard1972]

should've played that Jewel song

[@rodrigoappendino]

Well, it's allowed to split the work between the two hands, but I can't play gymnopedie well if I can't just make my left hand jump and play a ninth alone, while my right hand is already being used.

[@Ben-uj6qk]

I have small hands and i can play perfectly!

[@inaayaqasim1936]

Same here

[@Sakura-oc9lh]

What if you can't split a big chord between the hands because your other hand is busy playing it's own chord?

[@monicaleigh7641]

My pinkies are really under developed. All my fingers are curved and the tendons between my pinky and ring finger are so under developed that I can't reach the octave even playing on the edges without bending my hand / wrist to a very uncomfortable position which causes extra mistakes. Do you have a way that I can overcome all that? Is there a style of variation to octaves or other distanced notes that I can do to still create the same sounds without it sounding too unlike the notes I'm trying to play? I'm an amateur and really would like to be able to develop my skills without the difficulty of my left hand not being able to make the stretch. I'm basically playing with 3 fingers and a thumb on that hand because of the physical discomfort. My ring finger often has to play the role of my pinky finger.

[@monicaleigh7641]

The problem is also the same with my right hand as they are both developed the same

[@ikanny6967]

What if they are too big? And you fingers just don't fit between the black keys?

[@johnelmersantos4842]

Thanks for making this video!!! My hands are so small I’m ten years old.

[@bboomermike2126]

I really have small hands. Even playing on the edges I am one note short of an octave. Does anyone make finger extensions?

[@ValkyRiver]

No need for finger extensions; narrow keys suffice.

[@kyrgyzmanman4507]

Motion of the ocean is important 🤣

[@naveenverma7609]

Wanna know about finger exercise... to improve speed..🙁

[@PianoteOfficial]

We have a few! Speed drills: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kIHHp4qih8eEopI Finger Speed Exercises: kzbin.info/www/bejne/imTRdJ2idtlke9k Good luck!

[@MadMusician]

How you teach the things you teach: can I use those methods for when I teach how to play the piano? I know the piano better than any other mechanical instrument and also want to be able to teach how to play it in a course. Is it okay if I use the small technique tips that you share from this in that course?

[@PianoteOfficial]

Of course! I think as teachers we all pick up techniques and tips from each other. It's all about helping more people learn the piano :)

[@MadMusician]

I forget sometimes exactly how I'm playing it because I've been playing it for so long that it feels almost like it's too much second nature if I'm to teach it. That's why I'm asking for permission.

[@markellis8621]

Hi I’m new to your channel and just learning the piano. I’m really enjoying your channel and wondered if I could request a song that I really like on the piano for me to learn. Song is “imagine” by John Lennon.

[@markellis8621]

Sorry just found tutorial on your channel thanks.

[@eboyeman8457]

0:00 that's what my girl says😭🏌️‍♂️

[@user-anot53ou1]

This only works when playing the white keys but if the chords have black keys mixed in, this is not possible

[@djsampha]

I play D.S 5.5

[@Anne-sd1pu]

I'm sad, my hands are really small, I can't reach an octave not even like that 😔...

[@ValkyRiver]

Narrow keys anyone?

[@holiflower6833]

My hands are even smaller at 16cm stretching my hands

[@petercruz6268]

I have big hands... it can reach an octave... but I still mind this video...

[@keithkunikida1222]

My hand can stretch a tenth but for ppl with small hands, all you need is to do hand stretches from time to time, maybe learning Chopin or from composers that can stretch tenths to train your hands to shape.

[@shubhamlad2102]

Nice

[@AMB666]

The bigger the better, i think!

[@sheelasophie8621]

A song tutorial of a popular song , please.