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So I'm working on the Waldstein Sonata right now, and I'm able to do the octave glisses as written on most pianos. On some though, my pinky has real trouble gripping into the keys. I've only been working on the piece for a few weeks so far, so it could just come together with time I suppose. Anyone who has played this or double glisses in general, how do you make them more manageable on a piano with a difficult action?

Any chance we can get you to change the title from "meh" to something like, well, "Octave Glisses Question." It might not have occured to you that people might be clicking on this thread, only to find they may not be interested. At least, in the latter title, they can make a decision beforehand as to whether they want to click. Just a friendly suggestion.

Ouch. My pinky hurts just reading your post. There was a thread about this a couple of months ago (I think). You might try a search to see if the exact issue you want was raised.

And what Akira says is helpful to those of us with [1] slow internet connections, and [2] not much time.

It's actually more about the thumb than it is the pinky on any piano. Curve your thumb more so that the nail is on the keys and use it to pull your hand downwards. Just voice the top octave and the last one and it will sound fine. Keeping it soft on a piano with a hard action shouldn't be a problem.

Also, THANKS for actually playing what Beethoven wrote. It makes me somewhat livid when I hear it played as scales.

Well to be honest, I think Beethoven would have reconsidered his choice of octave glissandos had he seen modern day pianos.
They're rather difficult (and in my case painful) to render on most pianos, even with medium action, but perhaps it's just a personal weakness of mine.

I played the sonate about 10 years ago for my diploma. I'm ashamed to say that only a few months ago, I found out that these phrases are supposed to be played as glissandi. I found out in this forum!

What about Koji Attwood and other pianists who play it as octaves, not as a glissando? How do you feel about that?

If Beethoven wrote glisses I would prefer it that way.

Here is a youtube of Clauio Arrau playing the glisses:

Waldstein glisses

... anyway ... what does "meh" mean? Is it a word?

Meh-Adjective; from the French for "I hate Beethoven, wtf mate?"

Brendan, my problem isn't with the thumb. When I lick my pinkies beforehand (which is possible due to the passage right before the octaves) I can pull it off on any piano, but there are some pianos where my pinkies just slide over the keys while my thumbs hit all the notes.

I'm creepily obsessed with this piece, and I really want to play it well.

This might help you:


The definition of meh

As "they" say : LOL

Remind me never to play your piano...

I never expected Esperanto to really catch on. Or maybe it is some sort of Pidgin Esperanto.