Klarinet Archive - Posting 000195.txt from 2002/08

From: w8wright@-----.net (William Wright)
Subj: Re: [kl] Throat F and F# fingerings
Date: Wed, 21 Aug 2002 13:38:25 -0400

<><><> I wrote:
The side trill keys are the easier and more legato way to move between F
and F#; but on longer notes where the listener has more opportunity to
hear the F#, the side trill keys are not quite as accurate.

<><> David@-----.=A0Niethamer wrote:
Not exactly. On most clarinets (YMMV) the 1st finger F# is slightly
sharp, the chromatic F# closer to pitch.

David, since you have the credentials and the years of experience, I
can't dispute your statement. But perhaps "YMMV" is important here.

On my own Howarth, which has a slightly larger bore than some, I admit
that I cannot hear a difference in the two fingerings (when I have
everything else under control). However my tuner does not agree 100%
with my ear.

Sometimes my tuner says that both fingerings are 'needle on the line'.
But more often it says that I _begin_ a 1st-finger-F# with the needle on
the line, and then I drift sharp during a long tone.

My tuner says that frequently I begin a trill-key-F# flat, and then I
drift up to needle-on-the-line during a long tone.

Of course, needle-on-the-line is not the ultimate goal, but if I am
looking at my tuner, I can bring either fingering back to the line by
working my embouchure a bit (or changing loudness).

Sims' book (pg. 19) claims that the trill-key-F# is "useful in
chromatics, can be satisfactory but is sometimes flat - get it
serviced!" Sims puts an asterisk above the 1st-finger, but not above
the trill-key, indicating that the 1st-finger is preferred when
feasible.

So once again, YMMV applies.

Cheers,
Bill

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