No, it doesn't. But for those that think that small hands make one suited to play mandolin, several of the greatest players of that instrument had very large hands - Jethro Burns, in particular.
well
in Donegal I've met a fiddler Danny Meehan
and I've no idea how was he able to play the fiddle
his hands were huge bigger than mine, and it's not confortable for me to play mandolin.
you can read about him here http://www.fiddle.com/Articles.page?Index=1&ArticleID=18805
with my big hands I've picked up a banjo, zouk is pretty handy for me to play as well.
I have short fat, little (all of them) fingers, and for years thought that their diminutive stature would limit me, and my ability to play flute, guitar, or any other instrument for that matter. For that matter, they might still!
Some good advice has been afforded, possibly the best being that if you want to have a go, then you’ll get there!
Over the years I have seen the hands and fingers of Matt Molloy, Patsy Hanley, flute players; they have seriously long digits!
And Danny Meehan…yes, his hands and fingers are massive! I did meet him in London back in the 1980s. A big man with a big heart, a massive smile and such sweet music…and massive hands.
There are some Sessioneers here who would recall his playing at the late Jimmy McHugh’s wake. How someone with “shovels” for hands can coax the finest Paganini from a Guerneri is beyond me, let alone play the most beautiful haunting, heart chilling slow air.
The best advice I can suggest is that if you really want to play, then your heart will determine that you do!
The one thing that really leaps out from watching matt molloy is how easy he makes it look. Regardless of the size of his hands, each movement he makes is so efficient, not a finger moves any further than it has to, and he's already on the way to the next note, which lets him play exactly the ornamentation and variations that are in his head.
I teach the banjo a bit and people seem to think that you have to have big hands to play the banjo, but if you place your thumb between the third and fourth fret and pivot around it, you can reach every note easily regardless of the size of your hands. Also you should hold your fingers just above the note, so that each movement is about the same as touchtyping.
I have two pupils, one who is a smallish 13 year old girl, and one who is a 6'2" 13 yo boy. With a little practice the girl was able to cover all the notes automatically, and even reach the high B smoothly. The problem with the giant young fella was that his fingers were flying everywhere. It was like watching a st Bernard trying to run. He was tripping over himself all the time.
The key was to get him to make the movements as small as possible. The Only difference big hands really make is that it takes less time to learn how to stretch to cover the notes.
yes, the whole point is that determined musicians can do anything, despite physique, Django Reinhardt was a good example , WillieTaylor[northumbrian fiddler]was another.
this is debatable, but in my opinion with,most plectrum plucked instruments the right hand is more important than the left, logically the size of the right hand should not make a difference to picking technique
Llig I wouldnt be too quick to delete or censor this thread. I find it interesting.Paddy Canny possibly the greatest fiddler I have ever heard had fierce fat chubby fingers and you would swear that that the possessor of such fingers was anything but a fiddler.Seamus Ennis, on the other hand was born to be a piper.He had the most beautiful hands for piping with the longest fingers I have ever seen.
What? A thread is started with a deliberate bodhran baiting theme and yet the poster himself is all along of the (correct) opinion that it doesn't matter what size your hands are. It's just bloody stupid ... and typical.
But why advocate anything being deleted?Most of the threads are so completely irrelevant to music and mind -numbingly boring that these quirky ones started by eccentrics have the most possibility of anything interesting coming up.No offence at all to yourself but a plea to Jeremy to delete something doesnt sound like your style.
I suppose withe fiddle the bow is very important so size of hands would not be as important as a flexible wrist.
I have nothing against good bodhran players, the best one I have worked with is Colm Murphy [ on a recording"on muintavarra" ]when I was with the band, Suifinn
Helen Howard is another one who I have recorded with and who I rate ., Neither of whom have particularly big hands.
so, my original comment was not meant as a wind up but just a light hearted joke , my apologies if Ihave caused offence to any Bodhran players.
the curse of big hands
the curse of big hands
does it follow that people with big hands, are best suited to playing the Bodhran?
# Posted on July 9th 2010 by Dick Miles
Re: the curse of big hands
Any curse is only a curse if you let it be a curse.
# Posted on July 9th 2010 by Gone to work
Re: the curse of big hands
yz
Here's a guy with Big Hand's -- Dose not stop him - lol..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjLcfnY8-gY
jim,,,
# Posted on July 9th 2010 by FIDDLE4
Re: the curse of big hands
No, it doesn't. But for those that think that small hands make one suited to play mandolin, several of the greatest players of that instrument had very large hands - Jethro Burns, in particular.
# Posted on July 9th 2010 by will morgan
Re: the curse of big hands
well
in Donegal I've met a fiddler Danny Meehan
and I've no idea how was he able to play the fiddle
his hands were huge bigger than mine, and it's not confortable for me to play mandolin.
you can read about him here
http://www.fiddle.com/Articles.page?Index=1&ArticleID=18805
with my big hands I've picked up a banjo, zouk is pretty handy for me to play as well.
# Posted on July 9th 2010 by padre
Re: the curse of big hands
Jim - you know what they say...
big hands = big flute...
# Posted on July 9th 2010 by Jusa Nutter Eejit
Re: the curse of big hands
This looks like a job for (bom, bom, booom), Captain Windup!
# Posted on July 9th 2010 by AlBrown
Re: the curse of big hands
What a stupid stupid thread from a stupid wind up idiot. If Jeremy doesn't delete this straight away I'd be amazed. (but not surprised
# Posted on July 9th 2010 by ...
Re: the curse of big hands
G’day from down under!
I would hope that this thread is not deleted; likewise the equally important one relating to “little hands”.
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/25025
I have short fat, little (all of them) fingers, and for years thought that their diminutive stature would limit me, and my ability to play flute, guitar, or any other instrument for that matter. For that matter, they might still!
Some good advice has been afforded, possibly the best being that if you want to have a go, then you’ll get there!
Over the years I have seen the hands and fingers of Matt Molloy, Patsy Hanley, flute players; they have seriously long digits!
And Danny Meehan…yes, his hands and fingers are massive! I did meet him in London back in the 1980s. A big man with a big heart, a massive smile and such sweet music…and massive hands.
There are some Sessioneers here who would recall his playing at the late Jimmy McHugh’s wake. How someone with “shovels” for hands can coax the finest Paganini from a Guerneri is beyond me, let alone play the most beautiful haunting, heart chilling slow air.
The best advice I can suggest is that if you really want to play, then your heart will determine that you do!
All the best Brian xx
# Posted on July 10th 2010 by briantheflute
Re: the curse of big hands
The one thing that really leaps out from watching matt molloy is how easy he makes it look. Regardless of the size of his hands, each movement he makes is so efficient, not a finger moves any further than it has to, and he's already on the way to the next note, which lets him play exactly the ornamentation and variations that are in his head.
I teach the banjo a bit and people seem to think that you have to have big hands to play the banjo, but if you place your thumb between the third and fourth fret and pivot around it, you can reach every note easily regardless of the size of your hands. Also you should hold your fingers just above the note, so that each movement is about the same as touchtyping.
I have two pupils, one who is a smallish 13 year old girl, and one who is a 6'2" 13 yo boy. With a little practice the girl was able to cover all the notes automatically, and even reach the high B smoothly. The problem with the giant young fella was that his fingers were flying everywhere. It was like watching a st Bernard trying to run. He was tripping over himself all the time.
The key was to get him to make the movements as small as possible. The Only difference big hands really make is that it takes less time to learn how to stretch to cover the notes.
# Posted on July 10th 2010 by ColmGreen
Re: the curse of big hands
yes, the whole point is that determined musicians can do anything, despite physique, Django Reinhardt was a good example , WillieTaylor[northumbrian fiddler]was another.
# Posted on July 10th 2010 by Dick Miles
Re: the curse of big hands
thankyou Colm, That was a very interesting and helpful post, I shall bear your comments in mind when i am teaching.
# Posted on July 10th 2010 by Dick Miles
Re: the curse of big hands
this is debatable, but in my opinion with,most plectrum plucked instruments the right hand is more important than the left, logically the size of the right hand should not make a difference to picking technique
# Posted on July 11th 2010 by Dick Miles
Re: the curse of big hands
crikey, you don't "teach" do you you?
# Posted on July 11th 2010 by ...
Re: the curse of big hands
yes and one of my pupils won an all ireland at the national fleadh.
# Posted on July 11th 2010 by Dick Miles
Re: the curse of big hands
Llig I wouldnt be too quick to delete or censor this thread. I find it interesting.Paddy Canny possibly the greatest fiddler I have ever heard had fierce fat chubby fingers and you would swear that that the possessor of such fingers was anything but a fiddler.Seamus Ennis, on the other hand was born to be a piper.He had the most beautiful hands for piping with the longest fingers I have ever seen.
# Posted on July 11th 2010 by big_tab
Re: the curse of big hands
What? A thread is started with a deliberate bodhran baiting theme and yet the poster himself is all along of the (correct) opinion that it doesn't matter what size your hands are. It's just bloody stupid ... and typical.
# Posted on July 11th 2010 by ...
Re: the curse of big hands
But why advocate anything being deleted?Most of the threads are so completely irrelevant to music and mind -numbingly boring that these quirky ones started by eccentrics have the most possibility of anything interesting coming up.No offence at all to yourself but a plea to Jeremy to delete something doesnt sound like your style.
# Posted on July 11th 2010 by big_tab
Re: the curse of big hands
go the tabber!
# Posted on July 11th 2010 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: the curse of big hands
I suppose withe fiddle the bow is very important so size of hands would not be as important as a flexible wrist.
I have nothing against good bodhran players, the best one I have worked with is Colm Murphy [ on a recording"on muintavarra" ]when I was with the band, Suifinn
Helen Howard is another one who I have recorded with and who I rate ., Neither of whom have particularly big hands.
so, my original comment was not meant as a wind up but just a light hearted joke , my apologies if Ihave caused offence to any Bodhran players.
# Posted on July 13th 2010 by Dick Miles