 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: mvjohnso
Date: 2012-05-06 12:34
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I finally got fed up with the R1 side key design, it always took too much motion. A few notes: I have very large hands and a ton kooiman thumb rest so I can have the liberty of having the Eb/Bb key so large and so far down. I play that without moving my pointer vertically at all, just by bending the inner most joint (it rests in the recess of the first knuckle). I moved the F# towards the ring keys and that in turn allowed me to bring the Bb further down. I used epoxy and baking soda, with metal frames.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2012-05-06 14:13
An interesting solution. How does it fit in the case?
I have big hands too and am constantly bothered by the gymnastics needed to get on the lowest trill key. I've gone with a simpler solution, having the key lengthened (horizontally) about 3/16" so I touch it near the joint between the tip and middle section.
The Leblanc jump keys are ideal for me. Looking down from the top, they're at about 2:00, whereas Buffet and Selmer put them at 2:30.
Backun has reshaped the trill keys on his new. Has any big-handed player tried them?
Ken Shaw
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Author: mvjohnso
Date: 2012-05-06 14:36
I had already had to make it fit once before due to the bending of the Eb key, so it fit ok. After some Styrofoam removal it fit perfectly, though it would be a major case mod if I hadn't already done so. I was doing a similar thing for a while but decided to go all out (the Eb key on mine used to fit in a way similar to what your are describing. I mostly did it for the two top keys, I always have found those way to difficult to get to (even with large hands)(IMO slower to use those than to just finger the note, making them only good for trills). And, I have been wanting a better vented Bb option so this is my temporary solution. I personally didn't like having them all in a vertical line. Find it easier to play them when ones at 1:30, ones at 2:00, and ones at 2:30. It's mostly modeled after a palm key design that I saw on a Schwedler style reform flute that I saw that had 4 palm keys like clarinet. One working as the Bb key, one a C key, the rest were trill keys like the clarinet to play those notes up an octave without changing mouth position.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2012-05-06 15:17
Interesting solution!
I just make do with whatever I'm given, but of all the clarinets I've tried as of late, the Leblanc Bliss clarinets seemed to have the best ergonomics and key placement of any that I remember trying. It somehow felt smaller and more "compact" with less wasted motion. I never tried one of the other Backun clarinets, but am curious to do so.
Only thing is, I love my clarinet and haven't found much that can live up to it's playing potential and it'd be a COLD day before I switch clarinets for the keywork. I do like the idea of modifying the keys though. Something to keep in mind for the future for me.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: mvjohnso
Date: 2012-05-06 19:25
Though the placement will take a little getting used to, I am getting more function out of the keys than before are now more easily (less strain/movement on the finger) accessible. Right hand Bb passages are more natural, and there's a big difference with the Bb (I can now play the opening of Debussy with the R1 Bb and slur to the C cleanly). Also, no accidental mess ups of the fingering (though I assume that was helped by the fact that I never used the F#, I moved the Bb to its spot. As an added bonus it has a little recess to put my finger so my hand is angled further up; thus, making the access to the pinky keys less crowded. I have always thought that those keys were too close to R3 though. Any of you see any modifications or changes to the placement of those keys?
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The Clarinet Pages
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