 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bill
Date: 2000-09-12 23:03
One of my beginning clarinet books suggests that the right hand fingers can be left down to move easily between the low and high registers.
Is this okay, or is it something I might have to "unlearn" later? I'm not having any trouble with the sounding the notes, just wanting to know about the fingering.
I found some info doing a search, but didn't see this specific question answered.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-09-12 23:36
Bill wrote:
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One of my beginning clarinet books suggests that the right hand fingers can be left down to move easily between the low and high registers.
Is this okay, or is it something I might have to "unlearn" later? I'm not having any trouble with the sounding the notes, just wanting to know about the fingering.
I found some info doing a search, but didn't see this specific question answered.
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Actually it is a very useful technique. Say you a playing a series of notes that goes C B A B C (all in the middle of the staff). There's no point in spending the extra energy in moving the fingers of the right hand. Many method books will show the technique of leaving the right hand in place for sequences like this. Beginners' books often omit this useful technique and many people don't learn it until they get into an intermediate or advanced book.
On the other hand if you are doing a scale, it is usually better (and more natural) to go ahead and move the right hand fingers as you would have to move them at some point in the scale anyway. For example, if you are doing a descending scale starting on C in the middle of the staff (C B A G F E D C), you would need to take the fingers off the right hand holes by the time that you get down to the F. The A and G would sound fine leaving the fingers in place but the F would sound terrible. So you might just as well move the right hand fingers going from the B to A as to wait until getting to the F.
Also as you advance, you will find that when the notes like A and Bb that are sustained or prominant notes in a solo line that improved tone quality results by putting down one or more fingers of the right hand.
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Author: Bill
Date: 2000-09-12 23:42
Dee,
Thanks for the detailed explanation. You not only answered my original question, but also another one that was "forming" on tone quality.
Bill
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2000-09-13 03:10
Dee's discussion , including the efficiency factor!, just about covers my comments. Yes, its a very useful technique, so long as the covered holes dont interfere note-wise and/or pitch-wise. Don
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Author: larry
Date: 2000-09-13 14:50
Sometimes, the throat tones play sharp, and covering the lower joint tone holes helps to flatten the notes somewhat. You should experiment with a tuner.
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Author: william
Date: 2000-09-13 16:57
My rule is--if you don't need to use this technique to get over the break, don't use it. It is mainly a teaching aid for beginning clarinetist to learn to cross the "break" to the "upper register." As I "vent" most of my throat tones (except in very rapid scales)to improve sound and tuning, I tend never to keep my right hand down on these notes. However, in certain passages, as Dee wrote, it is a useful trick if you are not fast enough. Glad to read that you are doing well--good luck.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-09-13 21:52
william wrote:
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My rule is--if you don't need to use this technique to get over the break, don't use it. It is mainly a teaching aid for beginning clarinetist to learn to cross the "break" to the "upper register." As I "vent" most of my throat tones (except in very rapid scales)to improve sound and tuning, I tend never to keep my right hand down on these notes. However, in certain passages, as Dee wrote, it is a useful trick if you are not fast enough. Glad to read that you are doing well--good luck.
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I beg to differ. It is not just for beginners or people who are not fast enough. In Baerman's method it is specifically indicated as something to be worked on and mastered. The drills where he shows it are by no means beginner's drills. I.e. It is a technique that everyone should know.
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Author: Irwin
Date: 2000-09-15 00:26
I know this is going to sound really dumb, but what do you mean by "leaving the right hand in place "? I don't understand this technique.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-09-15 02:06
Here is an example.
1) Play the C that is in the third space of the staff.
2) Now do not move the fingers of the right hand. Let them stay on the holes and lever. Move the left hand only and play throat A (i.e. second space of the staff) using the A key. The right hand does not move at all.
3) Now go back to the third space C.
So you have now played the sequence C - A - C all in the staff and the right hand has not moved at all.
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