 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: StevenWayne
Date: 2017-06-05 17:55
The low F#. Sounds fine when played with the right hand pinkie, but squeaks or otherwise sounds bad from the left hand pinkie lever. The clarinet joints seal tightly when tested, F# key works the same from either side. I wonder if it's the ergonomics of my left hand moving slightly when the left pinkie is trying to activate the lever? I try hard to keep the ring keys sealed, but i might be getting a leak somewhere.
Clarinet was adjusted and regulated by me. Old original leather pads.
Post Edited (2017-06-05 18:15)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tony F
Date: 2017-06-05 18:19
It might be that the ring height above the tone hole chimneys is set wrongly for your fingers. The height of the rings can make a huge difference depending on whether you have slim fingers of large fingers. This can be adjusted quite easily by a tech. Alternatively, you could be unconsciously touching a sliver key when you stretch to reach the F#. The sliver keys can be formed to suit you personally.
Tony F.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2017-06-05 19:50
Lets assume gear is not at issue.
It may be, in which Tony's insight above, not mine to follow, in more consistent with your problem.
Sometimes, application of the left pinky to play these notes twists the clarinet to the player's left, ever so subtly, throwing off the embouchure enough to pinch the reed and cause it to squeak.
If so, minimize rotation of the clarinet with respect to its length dimension when the left pink is in use.
Also, full fingered notes like low F#, or the C# that is 1/12 above it (i.e. same fingering with the register key) are common for players to squeak on, and often alleviated by TIMM (take in more mouthpiece).
How much more? Keep on taking in mouthpiece until you squeak. Then back off a micron. That's your place.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2017-06-05 20:18
One more thing:
low F#/C# are hard notes to play because with the need for full finger coverage, all fingers must cover, completely, only those places they are suppose to.
Contrast this with a just below staff "C," that involves only the left hand's coverage, 3 fingers down, and suffice it to say, there's more to go wrong with the full finger coverage note you seek.
You would be amazed how the left hand's ring finger can move ever so slightly off its tone hole, particularly when the note you describe is played with the left, rather than right pinky, and also incorrectly press the just below staff C#/ just above staff G# lever, and open this hole ever so slightly, causing the note desired to be compromised.
Be cognizant that fingers are exactly where they are suppose to be. Slow down play, perfect, and slowly upgrade speed, all while TIMMing.
Keep that left pinky rounded. Conceptualize pressing that lever more in a up and down fashion (sometimes that keeping fingers rounded helps do) than one that attacks the key at a -45 degree angle (that runs risk of angling the clarinet as described above).
That's a conceptual model at least as much, if not more, than what happens in practice (pun intended).
Post Edited (2017-06-05 20:21)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Micke Isotalo ★2017
Date: 2017-06-05 20:27
Is the low F# at all stuffy with the left hand pinky compared to the right hand pinky? Try blowing a slow crescendo from zero volume up to mf, you will detect it easier that way. If you notice a difference it's cause is probably a play in the keywork. Can be confirmed by wiggling the F# rod back and forth in the direction of it's length, while excessive play would be felt by your hand and heard as clicking. Can be fixed by a qualified tech with the right kind of equipment (certain pliers to lengthen the rod in question).
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarnibass
Date: 2017-06-05 20:51
Is right hand F# pretty much always fine?
Is the left hand F# always problematic or only sometimes?
How about C# - same as F# but with the register key pressed - for both right and left hand fingerings? OK? Same problem as F#?
Maybe most important, does it happen only with F#? i.e. E and F or any other notes are fine with both right hand and left hand fingerings?
Does it happen more or less often depending on how you get to the F# e.g. jumping from a much higher note vs. moving from F or G, legato vs. starting the note, etc.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: toffeeman3
Date: 2017-06-05 22:53
The low e and f pads have to touch down at exacltly the same time otherwise you will squeak. If you have no leaks it is an easy fix by just bending the crow foot slightly depending on which one hits down first
07469847273
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Micke Isotalo ★2017
Date: 2017-06-06 02:00
The problem with excessive play in the keywork is that you can adjust only the left or right hand key to work properly, not both. So it's the one or the other. Only by taking out the play both will work correctly. I've experienced this many times with the e/b-levers, but I believe the same will apply to the f#/c#-levers.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: StevenWayne
Date: 2017-06-06 17:50
Right hand F# works well, Left hand is problematic. Partly, I believe because the LH F#/C# is harder for my finger to locate. That is probably a more "practice needed" thing. Part of it is probably embouchure, or the clarinet twisting slightly, as someone suggested.
Someone also asked if the LH F# were sometimes a stuffy note, and it is stuffy, hard to blow at times. Other times the clarinet just takes off on a squealing adventure.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Burt
Date: 2017-06-06 22:17
Try playing the F# with the left hand. When you get the squeak, add the right hand F#, keeping the left hand F# key depressed. If the note comes out well, it's a problem with the clarinet. If the note is still not good, look for a hole not being completely covered by the left hand.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: shmuelyosef
Date: 2017-06-07 07:50
Also, make sure that when you reach for the F# key, that you are not touching the little bar that actuates the D# key with either your second or third finger.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
