Klarinet Archive - Posting 000190.txt from 2002/08

From: Richard Bush <rbushidioglot@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Throat F and F# fingerings
Date: Wed, 21 Aug 2002 09:43:15 -0400

Use them both. If the instrument is set
up properly, the chromatic fingering
with the first two jumper keys will be
well in tune. (To a large extent, the
thickness of the bumper cork under the
second key, and to a lessor extent, the
thickness of the cork under the first
side key determines tuning.)

I do believe that you want to avoid the
flip-flop exchange of going between
thumb F and first finger F#. I would use
the side keys when ever Fs and F#s are
next to each other. Also, use this
fingering for a high C to C# trill.

I wouldn't trust either the Italians or
the French ;-)

John J. O'Neill wrote:

> Dear List Members,
>
> I have been wondering about this for quite a while. My first teacher
> taught me to use the left-hand thumb & the two right-hand trill keys
> when playing throat F#. He called this fingering 'the Italian Method.'
> My second teacher told me to forget that fingering and use the left-hand
> index finger to produce throat F#. He called this fingering 'the French
> Method.' Over the years I have alternated between these fingerings, and
> I have to admit that the finger-flipping required to play throat F and
> F# in a chromatic scale was somewhat challenging. I wonder what the list
> members use (and why) when playing chromatic scales.
>
> Is there a preferred fingering? I feel that it would be better to
> select one of these fingerings and stick with it for all chromatic
> scales. Please don't flame me on this subject. I am willing to try 'the
> Martian Method' -- or any other method if such a one exists. TIA!
>
> JON
>
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