Klarinet Archive - Posting 000048.txt from 1995/07

From: "Edwin V. Lacy" <el2@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Articulated G# key
Date: Thu, 6 Jul 1995 11:20:01 -0400

On Thu, 6 Jul 1995, Gary Bisaga wrote:

> I like to look at the articulated G# as being a "modifier" key rather
> than an "action" key. I.e. on a normal clarinet, the G# key always
> causes the G# pad to open. An articulated G# key (e.g. on a sax or
> some clarinets) *allows* the G# pad to open, but only if some other
> combination of keys is pressed. I like to think of it as modifying
> the normal G fingering (we're talking just-above-the-top-line G here)
> to instead play a G#; any other fingering will continue to play the
> note it would have played had the G# key not been pressed. So, play a
> G# on either instrument, hear a G#. Then, depress the first finger of
> your right hand. On an articulated instrument, you hear an F. On a
> non-articulated instrument, you hear kind of a flat G#.

Thanks for your explanation. I believe the question which prompted this
thread has not yet been answered. That is, why does the G# hole on an
instrument with an articulated G# key have to be in a different place
than a closed G#? The original questioner wanted to know why the hole
for the articulated G# has to be drilled through the tenon when the
normal one doesn't. Can you (or someone) give us that information?

Ed Lacy
el2@-----.edu