Klarinet Archive - Posting 000185.txt from 1995/05

From: John Baetens <JSBtens@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Instrument questions
Date: Fri, 5 May 1995 01:41:30 -0400

I guess the main advantage the clarinet has that sax does not
take advantage of is the alternate fingerings for the little fingers.
The sax uses a simpler, but much less effective, solution of
providing littler rollers so you can slide the little finger from one
key to the other. While this may be more effective when
sight-reading, (ever get caught in the middle of a run with the
wrong little finger key?) once you have a chance to figure out the
right fingerings, you can always come up with an elegant and
smooth solution on clarinet.
I concede that having the same fingerings in both octaves (i.e,
the octave key is really an octave key) has some advantages.
But this is also why saxes (and flutes, for that matter) do not
have the range the clarinet has. It is also a good reason to
learn the clarinet first.