 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: teletoneboy
Date: 2008-01-22 20:59
Hello, my daughter is having trouble playing the upper register as her thumb isnt quite big enough to cover the tone hole, I have heard you can put a pad on it to get over this problem, anyone done this? I tried quickly with an old pad but it muffled the notes that would nornmally require this hole to be open, how can I get around this please?
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Author: D
Date: 2008-01-22 21:31
I would have thought that if she can play the lower register (she has to cover the whole thing to do this) there wouldn't be a problem, she only needs the slightest nudge against the register key to make the jump. This should really be done by moving the thumb only the tiniest fraction, otherwise fast and smooth playing will be impossible. Perhaps her hand position needs a small alteration to make the most of the thumb size she does have.
Another thought, has she tried the same thing on any other clarinets of different makes. It might be that a slightly different shape to the register key suits her hand shape better with no modifications needed. Some keys curve round the thumb whole and some are more like a droop down either side.
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Author: Avie
Date: 2008-01-22 21:46
I have found that the register key length sometimes varies and may be a little shorter than I would like it especially for someone with a small thin thumb.
Idealy, you should be able to cover the hole completely while rolling the lft thumb up without lifting or having to slide. You would pinch your finger sometimes with a small thumb. I often thought that if they could extend the register key as close, without interferance to the F hole as possible or as you say adding some kind of pad.
I havent heard of a remedy and it would be a concern at the clarinet design stage and may be related to the quality of instrument you are playing. A pad of some kind would probably be a good temporary fix although I have never heard of it being done. Good luck.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2008-01-22 21:49
I think I've read in here that modifying a register key isn't quite a big job for a repair person, depending on the desired cosmetic result.
Here's a sax register key: http://www.gis.net/~schwartz/ebay/plate555.jpg
(PS: I am currently working on some Bundy Mazzeos, and they might be well suited for children, having a thumb plate and being lighter than other clarinets. If you find a cheap one on Some Auction Site...)
(edit: clickable link)
--
Ben
Post Edited (2008-01-22 21:49)
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Author: BobD
Date: 2008-01-22 22:00
The register key on at least some Ridenours is sculpted like the sax key.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2008-01-22 23:20
You can have a covered plate made and fitted easily enough by a competent tech.
Hard solder some sheet metal onto the existing thumb ring and shape it to make it comfortable to use (domed or flat, and also having opened up the inside of the ring so the sides are parallel), either sink the thumb tube into the body more (you will need a pillar drill and a flat top cutter of the right width to do this) or alter the set of the thumb ring so it will take a pad (a cork pad will be ideal against the metal thumb tube), then have it plated to match the rest of the keywork.
Shorten the underlever to get more venting on the thumb plate (which is now padded) and bend the speaker touch up and use a thicker cork on the underside so it's also more comfortable to use, or hard solder a piece onto the end of the speaker key and shape it to fit around the new thumb plate and have it plated.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2008-01-23 00:13
Attachment: Not so easy to hit it.jpg (72k)
Attachment: Little easier to hit it.jpg (73k)
I would have someone check her thumb position too. On most clarinets (sadly) the register key is vertical, inline with the clarinet body. Our 'natural' grip (first instinct when gripping something) however is to place the thumb horizontal, or perpendicular to the clarinet body. Which means in order to hit the register, you'd have to roll your thumb upwards (sideways) which leaves a lot of chance of exposing the bottom of the tone hole and producing a leak.
Check to see if she can maneuver her thumb and place it a little more towards a 45 degree angle. The tip of the thumb should closer to the register key and make it easier to hit without losing the contact of the pad of your finger and the tone hole.
Incidentally, just to make sure that it IS that the pad of the thumb is nt connecting with the tonehole, have her play a good strong low note (F, G, A, whatever) and see if you can nudge the register and make it sound the octave above it. If you can do it without her changing her finger position, it more than likely IS that one of the fingers is the culprit.
Alexi
PS - the two pictures I took with just the upper joint, holding it with one hand and camera with other so I couldn't get a REALLY good angle of holding the the thumb, but you should be able to see the difference that a slight difference in thumb angle can do. In the first when I try to roll onto the key, it exposes a little of the tone hole. In the second, the tip of my thumb is right on the key and i just need to press it down more which DOESN'T move the pad of my thumb off the tone hole at all.
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2008-01-24 18:32
IMHO, Alexi gives a fine discussion of the "thumb-positioning" ?problems and possible solutions. We had a similar discussion quite a few years ago, prob. search our archives for it. As to padding [plateauing] the thumb hole, an unrealized advantage of such is described by Sherman F , the improvement of the "pinch Bb", in the Mazzeo Bb Mech Set thread, comments solicitated. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2008-01-25 15:17
Use superglue and a metal washer. Will hold great, but can be removed when desirable. Hole in washer is desirable , in my opinion.
richard smith
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Author: donald
Date: 2008-01-25 18:44
Thanks Alexi for your pictures and post. I describe this to students as "your thumb points to 2 oh-clock" but your pictures do a better job.
Gordon Palmer has previously volunteered to do a similar job (though on a different ring key) for a student of mine in Auckland (her fingers were so small that one of them could reach into the tonehole chimney and get stuck!!!!! but oh how she loved playing the clarinet :-> ). I'm sure he'd help you out and do an excellent job.
email me if you would like further advice (slightly smaller "C clarinets" are now for rent in NZ) or contact details for Gordon (who often posts on this board)
donald nicholls
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