Klarinet Archive - Posting 000239.txt from 1999/03

From: Jack Kissinger <kissingerjn@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: [kl] fingerings
Date: Thu, 4 Mar 1999 16:39:43 -0500

Hi,

I wrote (in response to a request for a tremolo fingering from A2 to C2):

> Try playing the A as usual. To get the C, simply add the top two right-hand
> trill keys. If that doesn't work for you, let me know.

to which Don Morgan responded:

> Yo ho!
>
> I tried this out--Jack, did you mean to say the top two trill keys AND the
> register key? Without it, my C sounds awful close to a B! Also, am I
> imagining things or does it help un-flatten this C to have the two trill keys
> below it open as well if possible?

On my clarinet (1963 R13), without the register key, the C comes in about 30
cents flat (according to my tuner). With the register key, it is right on the
button. For general use, if I want a throat C to match timbre in an otherwise
throat passage (e.g., in the opening of Debussy's "Premiere Rhapsody"), this is a
useful fingering. It could also be used for a tremolo and (a surprise to me)
isn't too difficult to coordinate but it is a bit more awkward than simply adding
the two trill keys. So the tradeoff is pitch accuracy for convenience in
fingering. To me, in a tremolo, especially if I lip the combination up a little,
the easier fingering is probably accurate enough. BTW, I checked and the
fingering I originally suggested is the one recommended in Jay Arnold's book
under "Special Fingerings for Tremolos."

On my clarinet, opening the bottom two trill keys didn't do anything for the
pitch. Perhaps it does on other instruments.

Dee D. Hays added:

> Try this instead. Trying to get all four trill keys open would be the peak
> of awkwardness.

Actually, I don't find it particularly awkward. With my four right hand fingers
closed together, I can use the index finger for the top two keys, the middle
finger for the bottom two, and simply tremolo the entire right hand. For me,
however, as I said above, the bottom two keys don't improve anything.

> Play the A using the Ab key + register key
> Add the top two trill keys to this combination to get the C.

This works on my clarinet. However, the A I get is stuffy and about 30 cents
sharp and the C I get is still about 15 cents flat. It may work better on other
instruments, however, and is certainly worth a try.

> This fingering for A is shown in a couple of fingering charts.

I am always looking for new fingerings to help me cheat. This A is not in Jay
Arnold's book (something of a surprise to me) nor Tom Ridenour's (which doesn't
go this low). Could you please cite these other fingerings books for us. They
probably have some other useful suggestions.

So, now you have at least three options to try, Garry. Just for fun, here is a
fourth based on a modified version of one of Jay Arnold's options for an A:

>From (A): To (C):

TR TR
A A

x x
x x
x x

o x
x x
x x
F/C F/C

On my clarinet this gives an A which is slightly stuffy and about 20-25 cents
sharp and a C which is right on pitch and clear.

Best regards,
Jack Kissinger
St. Louis

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe from Klarinet, e-mail: klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org
Subscribe to the Digest: klarinet-digest-subscribe@-----.org
Additional commands: klarinet-help@-----.org
Other problems: klarinet-owner@-----.org