 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: VBruno
Date: 2010-12-04 16:17
Hi!
I've played the clarinet for 10 years, but i've stopped for a nearly the same time... . Now I want to buy a new clarinet (as i don't have one, a student-level is fine for my budget and rusty skills), and i'm going for the Buffet Crampon E11 France, but I have a small doubt.
I'm used to a clarinet with 17 keys, but there is a new model with 18 keys, including the low E-flat key. The fact is, I never needed that key until now, so I don't know if I will need it later.
The price difference between the 2 models (17 or 18 keys) would allow me to buy a nice mouth piece, so i'm kind of divided right now.
I'm not a music student, and don't intend to become a professional performer, but I used to play nicely when I was "young". Probably will have some lessons to refresh the technique and, perhaps, try to make the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music lower level exams (or not, who knows?)...
This clarinet will have to do the job for a few years, so the question is: will I need the E-Flat lever, or not?
Thank you!
Vania Bruno
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Author: kdk
Date: 2010-12-04 16:48
Is it a low E-flat or a left hand alternate A-flat/E-flat? Neither is a genuine *necessity*.
For myself, when I've had instruments in my hands that had a LH A-flat/E-flat key, I couldn't make myself use it without a lot of effort, but that's learning interference caused by over 50 years of playing without it. I imagine players who play with it eventually like having it.
If it's really a low E-flat key, the only technical use for it is if you want to transpose A clarinet parts to a B-flat instrument and there are low Es (concert C-sharp) in the part (or you want to play Peter and the Wolf on a B-flat clarinet). The extra bore length is supposed to give the long E and B better intonation and stability.
Karl
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Author: VBruno
Date: 2010-12-04 18:03
Hi, Karl,
Thank you for your answer. I think it is the low E-Flat key, the website says "left hand Eb lever". I went to see one "live" in the store today and it was a 4th key placed above the E/B and F#/C# keys. They told me it was used to play the low E-Flat.
If the question is transposing A parts, I guess I'll choose a 17 keys clarinet and buy a better mouth piece (just like the ones I used to play before). I think I can live without playing Peter and The Wolf with that clarinet.
Thanks again!
Vania
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2010-12-04 19:00
I just checked the Buffet website, and they list an E11 France with optional Eb/Ab LH lever. It is not for a low Eb. The LH leverjust makes transitions from clarion C-Eb easier..Same with low F-Ab/G#. It is not an extended range to Eb clarinet.
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2010-12-04 19:10
It is criminal for clarinets to fill the 1/2 octave gap between the low and middle registers with duplicate keys for all of the notes EXCEPT Eb/D#. STUPID, unforgivable! (like leaving out the forked Bb/Eb and the articulated G# --only worse).
BUT
I always have to fiddle with my pinkies in getting around the woodpile anyhow, and no longer have the full Boehm horn with its left hand Eb lever, and I seldom reach for it any more. I can always back up a few notes to find a place where I can slide or key-swap to get to that single (right hand) Eb. Then mark the passage.
If you have come to terms with a 17 key instrument, you'll have to do a lot of re-training to incorporate it into your playing; and your brain will fight you all the way. If you didn't start with it, you'll just curse the course of clarinet evolution and suffer this silliness.
So, I'd rather have a good mouthpiece and fight the occasional battle for the Eb (and low Ab/G#, too).
On the other hand, I sure miss my a articulated G#, and I still make terrible fuzzy sounds trying to play Bb5 TR X0X G#|000. SIGH
Bob Phillips
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-12-04 20:41
It's nice to have for an occasional tricky passage but it really isn't necessary. I played professionally for over 40 years without that key. My new Bb, 3 1/2 years old, has it and I hardly ever use it, my old A clarinet doesn't have it and I don't really miss it. I think you can live without it. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: VBruno
Date: 2010-12-04 20:55
Hi JJAlbrecht and Bob Philips,
Thanks for your answers. Sorry for my mistake but by only looking at the instrument i couldn't identify what the lever was for.
By now, when I play the clarinet it is already frustrating not to achieve 1/2 of my former level of performance, so it will be hard enough to start over again. So, I won't need another (and more expensive) lever to mess up my brain connections.
Thank you all for helping me choosing!
Vania
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Author: VBruno
Date: 2010-12-04 21:06
Thanks, Ed,
I'll certainly live without it!
Can't wait to go to the shop next weekend!!!
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Author: Klarnetisto
Date: 2010-12-04 21:42
I have a full-Boehm clarinet with 20 keys, including low Eb
I came to appreciate the low Eb very much, mainly when overblown as a replacement for throat Bb. The tone is vastly better, and it greatly facilitates better fingerings in passages which switch over the register break.
Having the left hand alternate Ab-Eb is also useful. But I was surprised at how long it took me to get used to it -- about a year or two! Once I did, I really found it useful. But I fully understand why others don't find it useful, if they aren't accustomed to it. It really takes time to learn the new habits involved in using it.
Klarnetisto
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Author: Drakiej
Date: 2010-12-05 03:15
I also have the full boehm and it didnt take long for me to get used to the alternate keys and as matter of fact use them more so than the standard keys, either way when I look over my music I see which fingering works better for that passage and sometimes it just comes naturally to me without thinking and so end up using both.
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Author: concertmaster3
Date: 2010-12-05 06:07
I think you've reached a good conclusion. That sounds like the Left-Eb/Ab key. It's nice to have, but not a necessity. I'd love a clarinet with it, but it would take some time to get used to it before I'd feel really comfortable playing with that key (I play-tested one with it last month and it was difficult at first).
If it was the Low Eb, then it really isn't needed. There are a couple of pieces that it would be nice to play A clarinet parts on Bb, but for the extra money you spend on having that key (which isn't the one you saw), you could have practiced it on A! lol
Ron Ford
Woodwind Specialist
Performer/Teacher/Arranger
http://www.RonFordMusic.com
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2010-12-05 19:15
Another thought:
I had my full Boehm instrument in the shop when a critical audition came up. I'd been relying on the LH Eb key, and I could only borrow a 17-key instrument. I lost the audition.
If you're really into your extra keys, you should probably make sure that you can get a back-up instrument.
Bob Phillips
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2010-12-06 16:34
"If you're really into your extra keys, you should probably make sure that you can get a back-up instrument."
Hence the reason why I've got a fair collection of 19/7 and 20/7 clarinets so I'll have a choice if one of them gets put out of action (and it's near impossible to get a brand new pro model full Boehm from a reputable company unless you're prepared to pay the premium for one).
Selmer basset clarinets and full Mazzeos have a LH low Eb lever with it's touchpiece on the inside of the LH Ab/Eb lever.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2010-12-06 17:43
I have a full-Boehm vintage Kohlert soprano (Bb) clarinet, but honestly I've never used the extra keys, I play it for the "cool factor" and because it's otherwise a really fine-playing instrument. I feel as Ed P does, you can do just fine with the standard Boehm keywork.
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Author: Klarnetisto
Date: 2010-12-10 02:54
Lucky you! I thought it wouldn't take me long, but somehow it did. I guess i should've practiced more!
Klarnetisto
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