The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jaysne
Date: 2006-10-22 20:07
I was just practicing some quick arpeggio exercises where my left pinky has to switch between middle C and Ab just above the staff in a flash: I'm forced to use my LH pinky because the RH one is busy fingering Eb. And it got me to thinking about the lone clarinet I once saw that had a LH Eb key.
Just how common are those? And do many professionals use them? I can think of instances where you'd probably absolutely have to have tht key in order to pull off a certain passage.
And is there maybe perhaps such a thing as a RH C#/G# key?
And now back to my original observation--is there any way around having to make my LH pinky jump from C to Ab? Is there a secret fingering to solve this problem--or is the secret called "just more practice"?
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Author: GBK
Date: 2006-10-22 20:13
Play the Ab5: TR x x o / x x o
This note tends to be stuffy, but in selected, quick passages will work adequately ...GBK
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-10-22 20:27
Stephen Fox makes a RH C#/G# extension key (as on German system clarinets) that's held onto the key arm by grub screws. So RH finger 1 can operate the C#/G# key. http://www.sfoxclarinets.com/Accessories.html
On clarinets with an articulated G# key (full Boehms, etc.) there's a duplicate touch for RH finger 2 which looks like another 'sliver' key.
But most clarinets can be ordered with a LH Ab/Eb key as an option and most pro clarinets have them fitted as standard. Except Leblanc Concertos! Funny that a clarinet maker such as Leblanc who were innovative in many ways now only fit the LH Ab/Eb to their most expensive clarinet (Leblanc Opus)!
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2006-10-22 20:29)
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