 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bob Gardner
Date: 2000-08-15 18:15
There are four keys on the right side of the upper joint. The lowest one is used to play Eb or D#--question what are the other three for?
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2000-08-15 21:23
Bob Gardner wrote:
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There are four keys on the right side of the upper joint. The lowest one is used to play Eb or D#--question what are the other three for?
Bob -
They're usually called "trill" keys. A trill is a rapid alternation between two notes. The trill keys are used for trills across the register break, which are otherwise difficult or impossible. While the trill keys do not give a really good tone on the upper note, they're better than nothing.
The top key trills from throat A to B (usually in tune).
The top key also trills from throat Bb to B (usually sharp).
The top key also trills from altissimo E to F, avoiding the strain and unevenness of using the little finger (as at the end of the Weber Concertino).
The second key trills from Bb to B (usually flat - the top key is better).
The second key trills from A to Bb. This is also the best fingering for throat Bb. You should use it whenever Bb comes on an accented beat or is exposed or held for a while.
The second key trills from throat G to A. The upper note is weak, but if you have trouble trilling smoothly with your left index finger tip on the A key, this fingering can be helpful.
The second key trills from C two ledger lines above the staff to D. The same trill can be made with the throat Ab key. Find out which works better on your instrument and use it all the time.
The first and second keys trill from throat Bb to C (usually in tune).
The second, third and fourth keys trill from throat Ab to Bb. You have to use the top joint of your left index finger plus the knuckle and maybe the area below the knuckle to press all the keys at once, and it's awkward to get your hand into that position. Still, you have to learn it, since it's the only usable Ab/Bb trill, which you need in the Mozart Quintet at the beginning of the development. (The Mozart era clarinet didn't have that problem. Ab was played with just the register key (there was no separate Ab key), so the trill simply used the A key.
The third key (usually along with the fourth key) trills from first space F to F#. It is also the ascending chromatic fingering for F#. It also works well in the second register, from C to C#. It's the fingering of choice for the C/C#/C figures in Shepherd on the Rock, the third movement of the Saint-Saens Sonata and similar places. Often it works better in the clarion if you angle your finger and press just the third key.
The third and fourth keys give a good trill from clarion Bb (above the first ledger line) to C. Play the Bb with the "sliver" key for the left ring finger and trill on the right. There's a long Bb trill in the Nielsen Concerto that this works beautifully for.
The fourth key gives low Eb, clarion Bb and altissimo G (usually flat).
The keys are sometimes used for various high altissimo fingerings, depending on what works on your instrument. A fairly reliable fingering for super high C# is the usual fingering for super C (TR 1 - - | 4 - - Eb) plus the second, third and fourth trill keys, opened with the left index finger and knuckle.
I'm sure there are more, but that's what comes to mind right now.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-08-15 21:37
In addition to Ken's list (if I missed this in your list Ken, I appologize), the two lower side keys plus the thumb give an F#. This fingering of F# is usually the one recommended for chromatic scales especially if slurred.
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Author: Bob Gardner
Date: 2000-08-15 21:53
Thanks you very much that was great. Ask and you shall receive great answers on this board.
Thanks again.
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Author: Michael Kincaid
Date: 2000-08-16 11:27
Bob Gardner wrote:
Thanks you very much that was great. Ask and you shall receive great answers on this board.
Thanks again.
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Bob, I'm glad you asked that question. I really hate
trills, but it is nice to see them listed out like
Ken did. I never knew what the third from the top
key did; the other three I had mostly figured out.
When I was a kid, I learned to play the throat B and C
using the top two keys(instead of crossing the break)--my band teacher was not amused. Michael
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-08-16 21:59
Instead of having to figure out how to effectively use these in trills, I advise people to get the Rubank Advanced Method Books Volumes I and II. There is a really concise trill chart in the middle of each of these that shows the (generally) most effective way to trill between two notes when the "standard" fingerings are too awkward to work well. The books are worth their price just for this trill chart. As a bonus, there is wonderful study material. Especially useful are the one and two measure "finger twister" drills for working on odd combinations and cases where you need to slide on the standard Boehm clarinet.
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