 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jon Shurlock
Date: 2011-11-22 14:49
I am finding Ab to C difficult - Ab on the left side key to C with my left little finger. It seems like my lefthand fingers are leaving very small air gaps, and I can't seem to plug them. If I play C with my right little finger it works
What would you suggest?
Does anyone have intervals that they find difficult? It would be interesting to know
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2011-11-22 16:47
I assume you mean Ab4 ![[Ab4]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/ab4.gif) to C5 ![[C5]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/c5.gif)
Coordination over the break is something every clarinetist works on. Learning to make the Ab4-to-C5 motion using the left little finger is essential, for example, for playing the Ab major arpeggio. The solution is keeping your hands and fingers relaxed and nearly motionless, as if you're trying to disguise the motion from somebody who's watching.
Without playing, stand in front of a mirror and close everything that doesn't move -- your left middle and ring fingers and your right index, middle and ring fingers. Begin with the movement that works (with your left little finger up and your right little finger on the C5 spatula). Watch in the mirror to make sure your left hand moves as little as possible. Just nudge the Ab key with the knuckle of your left index finger, pressing as lightly as possible -- barely enough to open it. When you make the motion, just relax your finger and let the Ab key close, keeping your finger touching the key.
Next, do it the difficult way, with your right little finger up and your left little finger on the C5 spatula. Work on one movement and then the other, making sure that they're exactly the same except for the little fingers.
Everything should stay motionless as you finger the interval. In particular, your left wrist should not move, or just barely move, your left palm should stay still, and your left hand fingertips should not move. Keep your left elbow down and in, so it's touching your body, and wrap your left hand fingers around the clarinet so that your left index finger lightly touches the Ab key.
Next, make the same motion with your right little finger up and your left little finger on its C5 spatula. Work on making the motion in your left hand exactly the same in both movements.
As you work, avoid any jerkiness. Caress the keys, make your movements as small as possible and keep everything relaxed and smooth.
Every clarinetist learns to do this, and you can too.
Ken Shaw
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2011-11-22 17:04
The right hand can usually stay "primed" for the C, ie you can leave its fingers down in "C" position while playing the Ab. If you must use the left pinky for the C, it can stay down as well, as can the left ring finger - just lift the fingers that are necessary.
That's what my teacher told me, and it helps to spend some time re finding out "economic" fingerings. I found out I move hardly half the fingers that I moved before. Depending on your specific instrument, your mileage may vary, but I think experimenting around this is time well spent.
--
Ben
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Author: Luuk ★2017
Date: 2011-11-23 11:46
Also: keep the air flow steady while changing fingering. Don't hesitate; anticipate the C while blowing the Ab.
Another thing to check: do all pads close perfectly? Or does the C need extra finger pressure to speak? 'Long' notes should speak as easy as 'short' ones.
Regards,
Luuk
Philips Symphonic Band
The Netherlands
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Author: Buster
Date: 2011-11-23 19:56
Ken,
I understand what you are trying to get across, but I would caution against stating that the wrist/palm stay motionless as a blanket statement.
Having large hands, I find it quite difficult, and painful, to perform your exercise with my immutable architecture.
Come at it from my direction: perform your exercise, but allow your wrist to rotate as necessary. Also, let your elbows naturally come "free" from being glued to your sides. It is quite easy (for me in this case) to rotate the wrist and maintain the fingertips on the tone-holes; they will be angled a bit, but still over the holes so to say.
For others this may not work, but is an option to be explored perhaps,- if it causes no undue harm.
Jon,
I must say, I do find it hard to pre-prescribe hand/arm position, or movement, of any given passage for someone in person; let alone here where they cannot be seen.
In fact, attempting to curtail the natural movement of your body can cause more difficulty in execution- or worse, trigger physical maladies. And attempting to limit the amount of finger movement in some cases actually expends more energy, thus making life more difficult.
I would simply suggest that all options offered be viewed with a discerning eye- including what I write.
And, I will not depart by saying 'Your Mileage May Vary' as if it frees me from any burden of responsibility.
-Jason
Post Edited (2011-11-23 19:57)
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Author: Jon Shurlock
Date: 2011-12-02 12:11
Thanks to everyone for their help and advice
Things are slowly getting easier - I think that as muscle memory gets better my fingers are much more relaxed which makes it a lot easier anyway to hit those notes, and the more relaxed they are the less they move!
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2011-12-02 13:11
Check your hand position too. Your left hand, instead of having the fingers straight across to the tone holes, should be rotate SLIGHTLY towards your body so the fingers stretch "down" to the tone holes. Basically, you should be able to touch the A spatula and Ab spatula without having to move your hand because your finger should almost cover them as is. You should be able to keep all your fingers down on the tone holes AND nudge the Ab or A spatula key open at the same time if you have a good hand position.
[IMG] http://www.clarinet-now.com/images/left-hand-anglecopy.jpg[/IMG]
(taken from http://www.clarinet-now.com/clarinet-left-hand-position.html)
This will help when you need to go to cover ALL the tone hole again. It minimizes the movement needed and therefore minimizes the risk that you'll miss lining up the fingers with the tone holes.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
Post Edited (2011-12-02 13:16)
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2011-12-02 15:40
There is much the same interval on the big bass clarinet solo at the end of On the Trail. Except from B4 down to G#4 and back to B4 right across the break.
Ed P., as a bass clarinetist and professor, or others that play BC, are there any words of advice here? Same basic situation as Jon describes. It is hard to keep all the RH keys and B4 on at the same time.
Maybe I need to take the B on the RH but sometimes, it's hard to find that key since it is the middle one! My BC does have the preceding D# available on the LH.
And I do the A# to F# and back with XOO\OXO
HRL
Post Edited (2011-12-04 16:30)
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