 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: tetiana
Date: 2003-12-26 15:58
When playing the high Bb with the side key, where should the side key make contact with the index finger?
The way I have been playing, the side key contacts about mid way between the second joint of the finger and the knuckle of the hand, on the side on the finger, a bit lower than midpoint (i.e closer to the palm than to the top of the hand) . This is because of the way I hold my wrist and probably also a bit due to the position of my thumb rest (which I inverted a year or so ago to get rid of wrist pain). I've been experimenting playing that side key closer to the 2nd joint (or even with the second joint) or even between the first and second joints. This makes accessing certain other notes (eg high D) quite a bit easier. But to do this, it seems that I have to rotate my right wrist down and that feels quite strange, not to mention throws off my position for other notes.
I realize that everyone's hand and fingers are very different and that this may be a difficult question to answer.
tetiana
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2003-12-26 16:29
You should use that section of your index that eliminates any rotation of the wrist when playing the side key Bb/Eb. For my medium sized hands, that placement is almost to the second joint, with the rest right on my thumb joint. Everyone's exact placements will vary, but the intent is to not move the wrist when playing these notes. So....whatever works for you, is the answer. Sorry I cannot be more specific.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-12-26 16:41
I myself contact it right where that first big knuckly is on finger. Second, if you're counting from the tip down towards the palm. My former instructor plays with his fingers tilted down covering the tone hole (so that his finger is already positioned over the lowest trill key, but he can still reach the tone hole with the tip of his finger). It seems to save him a lot of movement. He's of the "less movement is better" school of thought.
I would just make sure that however you hit it, you can quickly recover and put that index finger back on the tone hole in case you needed to. To me, as long as I can do that, it shouldn't matter how you hit it.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: allencole
Date: 2003-12-26 21:18
The position that Alexi describes for his instructor is the best, IMO. It's a very natural position for the hand, and a very easy double-use of the finger. Curve the finger and you're on the first RH tone hole. Flatten the finger and your on the low RH side key.
One bad habit that I've seen is a tendency to try to hit the side-key as close to the fingertip as possible. Some young saxophonists also try this with their side B-flat key.
Best rule of thumb: The pad of your RH index finger is needed for the Bb/F tone hole. Makes sure that's in place first. The lower RH side key can be hit with any part of the finger that happens to be nearby at the time.
Allen Cole
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
