 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: nbblazer
Date: 2007-02-17 19:26
I play with the clarinet resting between my legs, except for low e and f, so I can relax my fingers more. I still feel tension from my right thumb and it seems to be angled down against my fingers. The adjustable not wont go up enough for my thumb to be parallel to the rest of my fingers. Has anyone ever rested the thumb on top of the metal part where the thumb usually holds the clarinet up?
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-02-17 19:40
Maybe you ought to get a Quodlibet FHRED support to relieve the strain or tension in your right hand, and take the weight off your thumb.
http://www.quodlibet.com/FhredGen.htm
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2007-02-17 19:42)
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Author: GBK
Date: 2007-02-17 19:41
Playing with your thumb on top of the thumb rest presents the problem of accidently dropping the clarinet.
If you used a neckstrap, playing with your thumb above the thumb rest might work fine.
Or, you can have your tech raise your present adjustable thumb rest to a more comfortable position...GBK
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2007-02-17 19:57
How about the [now-old] inverting of a "standard" T R to gain about 1/2" of height for a better "pinch".? Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: mk
Date: 2007-02-17 20:17
i have seen clarinetists reposition thumb on top temporarily to relieve stress. Does occasion ever arise where you have to stand up? If so, how do you plan on supporting the instrument?
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2007-02-17 20:54
I just allow the weight of the clarinet to let the thumb droop where it may though some teach to consciously HOLD up the clarinet by keeping their thumb perpendicular to the clarinet (using muscle at base of thumb to hold up the horn - which I DON'T like).
Now, however you hold the clarinet up with your thumb.....check to see where the bottom sidekey is in relationship to your right index finger. If your right index finger is sitting WAY up above that lower sidekey, this is what will cause the GREATEST stress of all. What happens then is that you must subconsciously raise the clarinet every time you need to hit that key (this key is used a lot by the way).
Before making any arbitrary decisions about where your thumb rest should be, just make sure it doesn't create a problem.
............Paul Aviles
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Author: nbblazer
Date: 2007-02-17 21:11
I'm having trouble understanding. Could you explain which keys you are mentioning?
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2007-02-18 01:21
You have one of the most common problems. IMO, it will never get better- I have seen many, many pros playing solo concerts or in lessons play for students and then, during rest, remove their hand and bend their thumb in a way that only someone in pain would. If it hurts now it might not get better.
I use the Kooiman and haven't had pain for years. Neckstraps are also an idea. moving the thumbrest will only delay the onset of discomfort but if you play long enough it will start hurting again- depending on your performance/practice schedule this might not be a problem.
-S
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2007-02-18 13:48
If you get hand or wrist pain, you need to take care of it right away.
Find a physical therapist who specializes in musicians. I went to one, and she diagnosed the problem as soon as I picked up my clarinet. She put Post-its on the lower joint and on some of the keys, which I took to a repair shop to have the thumb rest repositioned and have the keys lengthened, shortened and re-angled. The improvement was magical.
The correct position depends on the shape of your hands and the length of your fingers, so no two people are the same. A correct position will keep you from cocking your wrist back as well as getting the angles right.
If anyone tells you it's tacky or "unprofessional" to use a neck strap, tell them that Ricardo Morales, the principal in the Philadelphia Orchestra, and Mark Nuccio, the assistant principal in the New York Philharmonic, always use one.
Ken Shaw
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Author: stevesklar
Date: 2007-02-19 16:16
I have carpal and it sometimes flares up - mostly while playing clarinet w/o a neckstrap or repositioned thumb. My day job on computers is where it is from.
As mentioned, take a good look at your hand. Try positioning your thumb where it is comfortable and you can get to the lower spatula keys. This will be the position for your thumbhook (or added length cork).
I've found on certain clarinets that the thumbrest is not condusive to good playing. I've adjusted that in a variety of methods - repositioning the thumbhook or adding a thick cork.
I also use a regular sax neckstrap and a thick rubber o ring (around the thumbhook to the neck strap hook) which allows me to play test many clarinets fairly quickly without discomfort. I also use it regularly for practicing. That's the quickest and cheapest solution.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2007-02-21 00:26
Sorry if I am unclear about the keys. But let me also apologize in advance for making a blanket statement which is..... I believe most of the suffering is mistakenly self inflicted.
#1 The mistaken belief that one needs to HOLD up the clarinet with the right thumb. This forces the use of the muscles at the base of the thumb. Why not just let the thumb take the weight of the horn naturally?
If this is not the problem, then the problem is usually....
#2 The misplacement of the thumb rest in an attempt to line up the right hand fingers in a certain way but neglecting to ensure that the right hand index finger has a clear shot at the Eb/Bb sidekey. If the index finger too high to hit this key in a natural manner what happens is that you need to raise the clarinet up ever so slightly (unconsciously of course) in order to hit the Eb/Bb key. If you stop to think about it, this kind of stress on the thumb is just asking for carpal tunnel.
I only throw this out there in case it helps someone else. I went through years of straps and Kooimans before I realized the folly of my ways.
..........Paul Aviles
Post Edited (2007-02-21 00:28)
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