Rach 2 opening

[nixo1000]

I just started the Rach 2 however I have small hands and can barely reach a 10th so, on the left hand cord F, C, and A(flat) I can barely play So, I recorded myself rolling the cord, I didn't really like it, and then recorded myself playing  playing C and F, and to my amazement it sounds like the orginal cord, I was wondering if I could just play it like that and no one will notice.

[xvimbi]

Leaving out a note from a three-note chord definitely will not sound like the original chord. Any experienced listener will notice this without any problems and even tell you which note you left out! You need to train your ear more if you think (F,C) sounds like (F,C,Ab). Does it matter? Probably only when you perfom in high-level competitions.

[pseudopianist]

Since Ab is the key note, making the chord minor I reeeeaaaaallly wouldn't leave it out.

[6ft 4]

Ashkenazy had to roll the chord its sounds fine.

[happyface94]

I'm surprised people cant do 10th, I have normal/small hands (I'm asian), and I can play 10th easily, I've been playing for some time though, and my hands have supposedly deformed a bit, if I stretch my thumb to pinky, it actually makes a straight line (180 degree between both fingers). But rach had surprisingly long fingers, so I would arpeggio it.

[Barbosa-piano]

 In Rachmaninoff's recording he played the F first and then the C and Ab together, as if there were brackets connecting F and the chord of C and Ab.

[pianojems]

I have small hands also and just started this concerto. My teacher helped me play the beginning chords..here is what you do ( just like some recording artists)

L.H. play the low F first and then jump to play C Ab and C (from right hand)
continue in the same manner by hitting F and the chords with Both C's played by fingers 5 and 1 while the notes in between change. In the right hand play all the chords without the middle C because it will be played by the left hand.
Make sure that you catch the first F with the pedal so it will be as one chord.
Let me know if you need fingerings for the arpeggiated passages I have them and they work well for small hands.

[kaiwin]

Try a really fast roll. Start SLOW first so you get the feel. Then you get faster.


Also,
Some people keep the tempo (Half note=66) in the intro. Some like to go twice as slow (and i mean twice), like moi :-D

For the next part read this post that i made.



https://www.pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,9144.0.html


Keep practicing... Don't stop playing just because it doesn't work, try to find a way that will work

9 pages!! wooohooo!

[pianojems]

I'm curious when did you start learning this concerto and how long did it take you to play 9 pages because I just started and it took me two days to learn the first page. I definitely find this a bit of a challenge. The odd number of notes per measure makes it a lot harder too and it keeps changing.