 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2000-03-03 21:26
Hi! Could someone please tell me how to trill? I need to know how to trill Bb, C's, and F.
I would appreciate any help.
Thanks,
Katrina
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Author: Eoin
Date: 2000-03-03 21:58
A trill normally consists of the written note and the note above it alternating rapidly. The note above it may be a semitone or whole tone above. You use the key signature to decide. It is the next note up in the major scale. So in the key of B flat, a trill on B flat will be the notes B flat and C alternating rapidly. In the key of B, a trill on A# will be the notes A# and B alternating rapidly.
If there is a # sign above the trill mark, then the trill goes to a sharper note than required by the major scale, so it will be a whole tone trill. If there is a flat sign beside the trill, the upper note will be flatter than required by the major key so it will be just a semitone up.
The next thing you have to worry about is: do you start on the lower or the higher note? I can't remember the answer to this one. Also, I think the practise was different in Mozart's time to now. Someone else please elucidate.
Finally, how do you actually play them? For most notes, you just play the lower note then wiggle the finger that changes it to the higher note. So to play a trill on F in the key of C, play an F, then wiggle the left thumb to play GFGFGF very rapidly.
For some notes, this is not possible because too many fingers need to be moved or you must cross the break between the two notes. For these, there are recognised alternative fingerings which do the trick. These are listed in fingering charts, for example at: www.wfg.sneezy.org. One example would be the trill between B flat and B:
Play a regular throat B flat, then wiggle the second "trill" key at the side of the clarinet (2nd from the mouthpiece, that is).
I hope some of this makes sense.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2000-03-03 22:04
Katrina wrote:
-------------------------------
Hi! Could someone please tell me how to trill? I need to know how to trill Bb, C's, and F.
I would appreciate any help.
Thanks,
Katrina
Katrina -
You don't say which octaves. However, only 4 of the trills you list call for anything more than movement of a single finger between 2 standard fingerings.
Throat Bb/C:
Play the regular Bb (A key + register key) and trill with the top 2 trill keys.
Clarion Bb/C:
If you have time to get there, the best trill is to play the Bb with the regular fingering, using the "sliver" key for your left ring finger. Then trill with the bottom 2 trill keys. If you can't get your finger on the sliver key quickly enough, play the regular fingering using the bottom trill key with your right index finger and trill with your left index and middle fingers.
I hesitate to say this, because it can lead to overall tension, but for the second version, it can help to squeeze the two trilling fingers together at the middle knuckle, to keep them synchronized, if your fingers are wide enough to keep both holes fully covered. Just be sure you relax again after the trill.
If the trill is a long one, and you have to start with the second fingering, play the first cycle with the right side key, get off the side key, and lower the left-hand fingers plus the left ring finger on the sliver key, continuing the trill with the bottom 2 side keys.
Altissimo F/G:
Play the regular fingering and trill with your left middle finger.
A few others:
Throat A/Bb - play A, trill with the next to top trill key.
Throat A/B - play A, trill with the top trill key.
Clarion Ab/Bb - play Ab and trill with your left index finger.
Altissimo Eb/F - play the Eb with the good fingering (using the right index finger + right ring finger on the sliver key) and trill with your left ring finger.
For lots more, see Tom Ridenour's book on fingerings and trills, which everyone should have. He describes hundreds of possibilities, the extent (if any) to which each one is out of tune, the tone quality, and when to use particular ones. It's available through Van Cott Clarinet Books on the Sponsors section here on Sneezy.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: paul
Date: 2000-03-03 22:15
Eoin's posting is excellent, especially when he mentioned the use of the phrase "recognised alternative fingerings". Note that he didn't call them "trill fingerings". There is a good reason for this, especially in light of the famously weak throat notes of upper chalemeau G#, A, and most of all the typical fingering of upper chalemeau Bb (with the register key and A key). On most horns, even on my premium pro grade horn, that Bb simply stinks. It's a lousy sounding note with that fingering. Many folks will at least try the trill fingering for this Bb (like Eoin mentioned) to get the note to sound much better, especially if the note is held for a couple of beats. Instead of calling it a trill fingering, I prefer to call it an alternate fingering. For me, this label has less of a negative feeling and I'm more likely to use the fingering whenever I can to get the Bb to sound nice. A particularly good example of using the alternate Bb fingering is the edition of "Over the Rainbow" that I have (Leonard Publishing Company). The alternate Bb can be used for this melodic song to great effect, especially in the longer notes. For me, the fingering is easy to hit and the resulting Bb is much easier on my ears.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-03-03 22:44
There is a very nice 2 page trill chart in the middle of the Rubank Advanced Method Books. This shows the commonest approaches to otherwise awkward trills. In addition, it has some good drills to help you get these down. Naturally the Ridenour book is more extensive but the two page chart in the Rubank is a very handy reference (I simply pull it out of the book to keep in my music folder). I would recommend getting both.
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