 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ben Shaffer
Date: 2014-06-01 20:13
I haven't been playing clarinet all that long.
Quick question what is the most Popular fingering for B flat above the staff?
At first I learned the fingering using the #5 key and then Ive just learned the fingering using the F trill key.
Can't see any big playing difference, at least for me.
The F trill might be a cleaner to execute.
Really is one more commonly used than the other?
Thanks!
Ben
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2014-06-01 21:11
The usual fingering for Bb ![[A#5]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/bb5.gif) is - Sp. Th. xxo | side Eb/Bb ooo
The side Eb/Bb key is the lowest of the four touchpieces on the right side of the top joint operated by RH finger 1.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2014-06-01 21:20
And for me, the long fingering Sp. Th. xoo | xoo is the least stable so I use it the least. When all is good (reed is happy and I'm on top of my embouchure and all that stuff) it's fine, but if anything is on the edge it's the most likely to have a problem. But then either of the other 2 fingerings may be fine. Surely I'm not the only player with this experience.
(Edited to correct terminology- but it's less stable whether I call it forked or long. A rose by any other name.)
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
Post Edited (2014-06-02 04:25)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2014-06-01 21:24
Long Bb xoo|xoo is good when playing (eg.) F-Bb as you just lift off LH fingers 2 and 3 for the Bb.
It doesn't work so well as a long Eb in the lower register as it's a bit on the sharp side, but can be used in fast passages were it won't be noticed so much.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2014-06-01 23:58
It depends on the passage and your comfort level. If you're not familiar with a fingering it will always seem less comfortable to you. You should try to practice the alternate fingers so you always have a choice. I used to encourage my students to use the "fork" fingering in the left hand in the chromatic scale for the Bb-Eb so they became used to it. That way, in any difficult passage, they had a choice. The 1/1 fingering is good when going from the F to the Bb or 1/2 when going from the F# to the Bb, A#. but that only works when the bridge key is well coordinated with the upper bridge key so there's no space between them.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2014-06-02 00:29
Both mentions of 'forked' or 'fork' fingerings in this thread are wrong and should be nipped in the bud now.
A true forked note is when the fingering employs fingers 1 and 3 on either hand to close the toneholes directly beneath them leaving the one in between open as opposed to closing a tonehole with finger 1 and operating a key to open another tonehole with finger 3 on the same hand.
Unless your clarinet has a ring for LH finger 3, then and only then will you have a true 'forked Bb' as LH fingers 1 and 3 are used for Eb/Bb on these instruments fitted with this once popular optional piece of mechanism that is no longer offered by Buffet, Leblanc or Selmer.
So the 1 and 1 fingering for Bb (xoo|xoo) should be referred to as 'long Bb', the side key fingering is 'side Bb' and the sliver Eb/Bb key for LH3 is called the 'chromatic' or 'cross Bb' fingering.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Roxann
Date: 2014-06-02 00:51
My teacher has always told me the "standard" fingering is, as Chris termed it above, the "chromatic or Cross Bb" fingering using the little sliver key. The "side Bb" is used only when it's more convenient than the standard fingering. And the "long Bb" is used also when it's more convenient than the chromatic/Cross Bb fingering. They both depend on what notes come before and after in a passage. Thanks Chris...I have four new terms to add to my clarinet vocabulary!
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2014-06-02 02:23
I stand corrected- I guess it's not "fork". For some time I've coveted the "articulated G#" mechanism and I guess I'll never have one.
(Edited to correct again- it's articulated not forked. Stick a fork in it, it's done.)
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
Post Edited (2014-06-02 04:27)
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2014-06-02 03:21
I think the G# "mechanism" refered to in post a bove is the "articulated" G#.
There is a Forked G# available on every clarinet and doesn't need any mechanism, just xxo xxo. This works quite well on some clarinets but is very weak or muffled on others however occasionallly useful if you don't have the LH Ab/Eb key.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-06-02 03:46
The 1 and 1 Bb is pretty standard for arpeggiated figures. Any running scale like passages are best with the side key. As a note, there is a Leister master class video (I think it may be the one from Northwestern Univ.) where he mentions his love of different tone colors associated with different fingerings. He specifically mentions liking the "covered" sound of the Boehm 1 and 1 fingering for Bb.
............Paul Aviles
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