 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: wjk
Date: 2002-06-30 04:02
Woe is me---I'm getting right thumb/hand pain from my thumbrest. Will inverting the thumbrest help? (if I do this however, the clarinet won't sit correctly in the case and the metal part of the thumbrest will hit the lower part of my thumb)
How about an adjustable thumb rest? Any advise? THANKS!!!
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Author: Snoink
Date: 2002-06-30 04:46
Are you wearing any rings on your right hand? Once I had a ring on that was too small and my right hand, especially my thumb, ached. Take it off.
Also there are pads that fit on the thumbrest called thumbsavers. They fit easily, are pretty cheap, and they pad your thumb.
I hope this helps!
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Author: John Moses
Date: 2002-06-30 05:38
For years I've been using a thumb rest made by "Loree", the French oboe maker. They make a large, wide thumb rest for their Dutch "English Horns", many of us in NYC got them years ago from Harold Freeman, who is gone now. Eddie Daniels & I were very happy with our first Dutch thumb rests, and everyone else was happy also.
Try contacting Loree directly, or a dealer in oboe accessories.
They cost about $50-75, but are well worth the investment.
Buffet makes an adjustable rest, but it's too narrow for me. Also Bay makes a saddle rest, but it's a bit too tight. There are lots of rests around, and I've tried most of them, the Loree rest works best.
JJM
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Author: Wes
Date: 2002-06-30 18:48
For me, a similar problem was solved by a 10-15 minute daily exercise routine including warmup and weights. Good luck!
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-06-30 19:00
Velly interesting , J M , maybe thats why I enjoyed the Eng Horn in pref. to the Ill Wind [oboe]. We have discussed T R problems many times, Search the Phorum, Don.
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Author: Robin
Date: 2002-06-30 21:28
What sort of exercises strengthen the thumb, Wes? I have the same problem as wjk. Thanks!
Robin
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Author: Jerry Zis
Date: 2002-06-30 22:44
The Selmer adjustable thumb rest plus a rubber thumbsaver worked well for me. It also allowed me to optimize my right hand position to a less angular stance that covered the holes more securely. They are about $50.00 and require one more hole to be drilled in order to mount.
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Author: Burt
Date: 2002-06-30 23:17
I had my repair person move my thumb rest half an inch toward the barrel. This provided considerable relief for the thumb. If your fingers are very short, you won't be able to reach low E. In any case, try out the idea for yourself by putting your thumb ABOVE the thumb rest (holding the clarinet with your knees or a chair) to see if this wil be comfortable for you.
A "side" advantage: This makes using the side-Bb (third line) easier to use.
As far as the case: On one of my 2 clarinets, I had to slit the cloth and insert a chisel. But this doesn't require the care that installing a thumb rest does.
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Author: anon
Date: 2002-07-01 01:59
You could always get a neckstrap.
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Author: Simone
Date: 2002-07-01 02:45
I just have a bandaid wrapped around the thumb rest. :0)
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Author: Lori
Date: 2002-07-01 03:23
When I had pain from the thumbrest, I tried a thumbsaver pad. My thumb stopped hurting, but soon the movement of the RH ringfinger was affected. I think the thumbsaver was too fat and displaced the whole hand. My repair guy gave me a slice of surgical tubing that slips over the thumbrest and problem solved. It's nice and thin, gives a good grip and the price was right - free! It doesn't affect the placement in the case and when you don't need it anymore, just toss it. Also, Gregory Smith posted back in Nov (in reply to another topic) on the proper placement of the thumb in supporting the clarinet. He suggests using the top of the thumb not the side - do a search for the full description and good luck.
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Author: John Scorgie
Date: 2002-07-01 05:02
wjk --
If you don't care to install one of the custom thumbrests, here is a quick and dirty fix:
Most modern thumbrests are secured to the LJ by 2 tiny screws. Unscrew the thumbrest with a right sized jeweler's screwdriver, and invert it so that it is upside down. Replace the screws. You have now raised the thumbrest a fair amount but it will dig into your thumb worse than before. Cushion the thumbrest with some suitable material. There are dozens of ways to do this. Experiment. I just use a thumbsaver from Runyon Products. $2 or $3 at your local music store.
For those of us with hands which are a bit larger and longer fingered than typical, this fix (or something more elaborate) is a MUST DO item.
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Author: William
Date: 2002-07-01 15:12
I have Bay thumb rests installed on my LeBlanc Concertos and they seem comfortable ( I do not understand what JM meant by "a bit too tight") However, I am not sure that the amount of comfort provided is worth the expense.
For my Buffets, I had Selmer adjustable TR's installed. To cover them, and make them quite comfortable, I simply sent down to our local Farm and Fleet supply store and bought a three foot section of brakeline tubing. I then cut off some small sections--length optional--and inserted one over each of the Selmer thumb supports. Brakeline tubing is thick and ridgid, but also pliable and works remarkably well softening the weight of the clarinet on the thumb while providing "more" for the thumb to hang onto. I must credit this idea to my old college clarinet professor, Glenn Bowen, whom I recently saw and am happy to report is doing well, refacing mouthpieces and still playing great.
However, none of the above will serve to relieve the actual weight of the clarinet on the thumb and wrist. For this, you my need to use a neckstrap, rest the bell on one of your knees (not between the knees) of investigate on of the other support devices that are someimes advertised in The Clarinet.
If "necessity is truely the mother of invention," then perhaps someone "out there" with a creative mind, the technical skill and the urgent need could invent the "Mother of All" right-hand clarinet support devices and provide all of our over worked thumbs with much needed help--other than switching to the trombone.
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Author: Matt
Date: 2002-07-02 12:40
Jamie:
I think the Kooiman TRs leave something to be desired. I tried the Etude and was not
happy with it. The problem is that the pivot point of the TR does not line up with the body of the clarinet causing a rotation when playing the open notes.
MOO,
Matt
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Author: EK
Date: 2002-07-03 01:59
I have (temporarily) removed the thumb rest and have been playing without one for a few days because I had lots of pain in my right wrist and forearm. It took a little bit of getting used to, but I now have much greater mobility in my right hand fingers (and, not to mention, much less pain). This seems to be working great for me, but are there problems associated with the quick fix that I should know about?
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Author: Bob
Date: 2002-07-03 17:12
Although I have never read anything about the origin of the thumb rest I'm inclined to think it must have been invented for standing or marching clarinet players....probably Austrian Army. I have always rested the bell on my knee when sitting and occasionally even rest it on both knees. I'm currently trying an elastic neckstrap but must admit it's not easy to adjust to.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2002-07-03 20:04
Bob wrote:
>
> Although I have never read anything about the origin of
> the thumb rest I'm inclined to think it must have been invented
> for standing or marching clarinet players.
I've seen thumbrests on clarinets from the late 1700s all the way until now. The early thumbrests I've seen are either small wood protuberances or brass nails.
The early clarinets were made of light boxwood or fruitwoods and had fewer keys, making them significantly lighter than todays clarinets.
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