 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: CarlT
Date: 2008-07-19 03:33
I don't wish to start a new Bb/Eb thread. Heaven knows it's been discussed thorougly enough (do a search, and you'll see if you don't already know).
I have a couple of simple questions. As a beginner, I'm not quite familiar with some of the terms. Some use the "banana" key to get Bb I believe, and some use the "side" key. Of course, some use both, depending on whether they're doing chromatics, or like G to Bb, etc.
Will someone tell me: What is the banana key, and what other key(s) used with it to get middle of staff Bb?
Also, can you also tell me how to use the "side" key (which one) and what key goes with that to get the same (chalumeau) Bb?
I am lost as to the terminology, but I do have difficulty with how I am being taught chalumeau Bb, as it is a bit difficult to press the "A" key and the register key and make it sound good (for me anyway).
Sorry to be ignorant about this, but it goes with the territory of being a beginner.
CarlT
Post Edited (2008-07-19 03:39)
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Author: davidsampson
Date: 2008-07-19 06:59
The keys you are referring to are used for the top single ledger line Bb, above the staff. The banana key is the small key located directly below the second finger of your left hand, and the side key is the bottom of the four trill keys above the first finger on your right hand. along with the register key, thumb, and first two fingers of your left hand these will produce a Bb above the staff. Without the register key you will get Eb on the bottom line of the staff.
There are a few alternative fingerings for throat Bb. The A key along with one of the trill keys above your right hand (I forget which at the moment) will produce Bb and there are probably a couple of other ones.
Also, try putting down your right hand and the low F/C key, along with possibly the bottom two fingers of your left hand. This often improves the tone and intonation of throat Bb.
Post Edited (2008-07-19 07:02)
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Author: NorbertTheParrot
Date: 2008-07-19 11:11
For chalumeau Eb (bottom line) and clarion Bb (above stave) you can use any of:
thumb (and register key for Bb) 1 2 and the lowest side key (first finger of right hand)
thumb (and register key for Bb) 1 2 and left-hand banana/sliver key (third finger of left hand)
thumb (and register key for Bb) 1 and 4 (usually sharp for Eb, flat for Bb)
thumb (and register key for Bb) 1 and 5 (usually very sharp for Eb)
thumb (and register key for Bb) 1 and 4 and right-hand banana/sliver key (third finger of right hand) (usually very sharp for Eb)
I find the first and last of these the most useful, but it's each to his own, really.
...........
But you were asking about middle line (throat) Bb. You can use either of:
register key and A key
A key and third side key (first finger of right hand, the third key up, or second key down)
The second of these is often described as a trill fingering (for the A to Bb trill, to avoid trilling with the thumb). But it tends to give a much better sound than the thumb fingering, and may be used in many other situations too.
With either fingering, you can add any selection of right hand, and sometimes even left hand fingers, that improves the sound. This is a matter of experimentation. Even something as apparently wacky as opening the C#/G# key (fourth finger of left hand) may improve the sound of this note.
However you finger it, you will find that the intonation of this note can be bent all over the place.
If the sound is particularly bad, remove the register key and the A and Ab flat keys, and clean the toneholes.
...........
You referred to chalumeau Bb. That terminology normally means the low Bb, not the throat Bb.
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Author: CarlT
Date: 2008-07-19 12:33
Thanks, David and Norbert. I had searched the archives and found an old thread from a H. S. student about using the "banana" key to get Bb/Eb, and the poster did not say which Bb. I wrongly assumed it was throat Bb (I called it chalumeau Bb, but I meant throat Bb).
At any rate, you guys have straightened me out. Now I will try the second fingering referred to above and not use the "A/R" keys together unless it is the one that should be played for best fingering, etc.
As said, when I do throat Bb on my clarinet by using the A and Reg. keys, the sound is not very good on my clarinet, so I was looking for an alternate method. Seems to me that Bb sounds awful compared to other tones.
Part of my problem, I'm sure, is that I have yet to really master the dreaded (for beginners anyhow) "break", and once I do, A/R key Bb may sound better.
CarlT
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Author: NorbertTheParrot
Date: 2008-07-19 12:59
CarlT - by all means learn to use the side key for throat Bb. But make sure you are operating it correctly. You need to be able to reach it quickly, which precludes lifting the finger high and putting the fingertip on the key. Correct technique is to operate the key with the side of the finger, keeping the fingertip as near as possible to the hole for which it is responsible. This takes quite a bit of flexibility! Try playing slurs from low Bb to throat Bb and back again, making sure that each note starts cleanly and is in tune.
Another useful exercise for this note is to slur between throat Bb (A key and 3rd side key as before) and chalumeau Eb, which in this context is best played using thumb-1-2 and the left hand sliver key.
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