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Re: Thumb Troubles!

Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2009-12-02 13:14

FWIW, most string method books that I've looked at suggest placing a beginning cellist's left thumb on the back of the cello's neck directly behind the 2nd finger. Certainly you can look down the cello section of any orchestra, major or not, and see many different thumb positions among the already accomplished players there. The left hand position for a cellist is more or less analogous to the right hand of a clarinetist.

Something I notice is that clarinetists seem not to talk about pain in the left hand, where the placement of the thumb could conceivably also cause strain. This is a moot issue because the thumb has to cover a hole that's fixed by the manufacturer's design. Still, I wonder why left hand pain doesn't seem to be the problem that right hand pain is if the hand position is the main issue. The difference of course is that the right hand also bears much of the instrument's weight.

I also suspect a player's best placement of the thumb rest depends on the layout of the keys - particularly the right hand lever keys. On my Selmer 10Gs the lever keys are angled upward. On my 1950s Buffet clarinet, those keys are straight. I don't know if that angled keywork on my 10Gs was unique - I've never really paid attention until recently. But I can imagine that the different reach resulting from the different angles of the lever keys might affect where the thumb rest needs to be.

Karl

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