Klarinet Archive - Posting 000774.txt from 2002/10

From: GrabnerWG@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Half hole
Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2002 17:02:01 -0500

In a message dated 10/29/2002 4:19:51 PM Eastern Standard Time, jhf@-----.gov writes:

> Pardon my ignorance. As a recorder player, I know about half-holing, but not as a clarinetist. What tone hole or holes does one half-hole?>>

Half-hole is the technique of slightly covering left hand first finger tone hole that is opened to produce the altissimo.

It is used to help slur to the upper note, rather than producing the noticible "POP" that occurs when the first finger is abruptly lifted.

I was taught to do it with a rolling motion of the first finger, almost a reverse of what you do to go from F# to the A key.

Use in the wrong situation can cause flatness, so as Tony reminds us, it is a technique that you use when appropriate.

It was "drilled" into my head too. I can't imagine not using it when appropriate.

Walter Grabner
www.clarinetXpress.com
"Killer" Eb mouthpieces

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