 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Matt Locker
Date: 2017-06-21 18:09
Does anyone have recommendations to cure fingers sticking to keys due to the heat and humidity of summer?
Thanks,
Matt
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Author: kdk
Date: 2017-06-21 18:29
Are your fingers really *sticking* to the keys? Your only real solution is to wash your hands (and dry them thoroughly) *and* wipe the keys thoroughly, too, so there is no residue mix of atmospheric moisture, sweat and dust. I've never had this problem, so I have very little experience with it.
My problems in very warm playing environments tends more to be slipperiness between my fingers and the keys. The solution, apart from only playing in temperature-controlled environments, is the same - wipe everything - fingers and keys - clean and dry as often as necessary.
Karl
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Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2017-06-21 19:47
Like Karl said, perspiration in and of itself would likely create the opposite situation: slipperiness. His remedy is on point.
Perhaps said perspiration is hydrating something on your hands or clarinet that needs removal, that when exposed to water tends to become more adhesive.
You are by assumption playing a clarinet with tone holes, and not plateau keys, right.
(Plateau keys: think saxophone).
Some tone hole clarinet marching band players who wear white cotton gloves have cut out the fabric above which the fingerpads lie to deal with the need for such gloves for not simply uniform consistency with other marchers, but warmth.
While I know that cotton gloves might seem counterintuitive to hot weather play, they might help absorb sweat. I'm talking about the thin white ones.
(Supid irrelevant ironic fact: these pads and their noses are the only 2 places where dogs DO sweat, removing most of their excessive body heat through panting.)
Post Edited (2017-06-21 19:49)
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Author: Matt Locker
Date: 2017-06-23 16:24
All:
I guess this means that you've never felt sticky in hot/humid conditions. This is my situation. I think it's just a function of the levels of humidity in the air as this doesn't happen during the dry winter months. I'm not necessarily sweating but am rather just sticky. This stickiness unfortunately affects my ability to slide between keys. It also induces unintended openings if I brush a key that I would ordinarily just slide past.
Thoughts?
Thanks for the replies.
Matt
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Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2017-06-23 18:56
Maybe put a travel size pharmacy corn starch bottle with your gear? Dab a little on your hands and rub them together as needed.
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Author: ClarinetRobt
Date: 2017-06-23 21:28
What about hand sanitizer? With all the alcohol in it, might help dry up your hands.
~Robt L Schwebel
Mthpc: Behn Vintage
Lig: Ishimori, Behn Delrin
Reed: Legere French Cut 3.75/4, Behn Brio 4
Horns: Uebel Superior (Bb,A), Ridenour Lyrique, Buffet R13 (Eb)
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Author: Hurstfarm
Date: 2017-06-24 20:01
A good, odourless spray-on anti-perspirant can help - but not the kind that itself leaves a residue or you'll have a different sticky hands problem and make it worse by transferring gunk onto your instrument. Spray lightly and remove the anti-perspirant from the pads of your fingers and thumbs before it dries.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2017-06-24 20:46
Of course, the suggestions so far deal with your hands. It probably should go without saying that you should give the keys a good wipe, too, first with a damp cloth and then, if necessary, with a mild solvent on a cotton ball or cloth, maybe something like Windex or a little rubbing alcohol. Neither would probably remove anything really gummy, but would clean up a light coating of sweat and dust.
Karl
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Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2017-06-25 04:02
After thought: excess corn starch/talc, beyond that needed to dry skin might make you very slick with your fingers on the clarinet...too much in the opposite direction of your reported problem.
Point being, consider taking Karl's suggested rag to wipe any excess off your fingers.
Oh, and for all it might be necessary, don't forget to take some skin grease, say from behind your ear, and dab it on the 2 to right top pinky keys. It makes sliding down more doable after Karl's degrease is affected.
The reason for such slides is beyond thread scope but if you don't know why this is useful, and want to know, please speak up here.
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Author: JasonOlney
Date: 2017-06-28 02:30
Hmm, when I'm nervous I sweat and, rather than cause slipperiness, my fingers become sticky. I don't eat an all-sugar diet or anything and I am a pretty clean and fastidious person. My sweaty fingers just get tacky or sticky or something. I have to wash my hands and dry them fully, as well as wipe down the keys on my horn. Unfortunately, depending on how nervous I am, and I'm a nervous sort or fellow, I'll just keep sweating and have to deal with an uncomfortable tackiness.
Am I the only one who has this issue?
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Author: Matt Locker
Date: 2017-06-28 16:31
Jason:
Whether it's nerves or weather, that is essentially the issue I'm referring to. So far the things I've tried have not worked and, if anything, actually makes it worse. I've tried washing/drying hands, makes it worse. Same with wiping the keys, as it must get rid of whatever oils may have already been there that were helping with the sliding fingers. Hand sanitizer - definitely worse.
I have yet to try corn starch or the other suggestion of spray on deodorant. I also like the idea of using existing "skin grease", strange as it sounds. That could be workable and it's "all natural"!!
An interesting discussion. Thanks all!
Matt
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Author: shmuelyosef
Date: 2017-07-06 23:03
Hand lotion can come 'back to the surface' in hot weather and make your hands sticky.
Stay away from talc...if it gets in the mechanism, it can cause premature wear and make a mess.
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Author: Matt Locker
Date: 2017-07-07 18:41
A follow-on:
I inadvertently got some cork grease on my fingers last rehearsal. I wiped it off the best I could but then found it worked wonders for the sticky fingers issue. I may try some more experiments with it.
MOO,
Matt
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2017-07-07 18:59
I'd only ever recommend you use a hand towel or cloth to wipe your hands and your keywork with whilst playing as using talc or any other form of powder will soon cake up in toneholes and in the mechanism which can be difficult to remove without having to remove all the keys.
Alcohol in the form of hand sanitiser will dry out your skin if used a lot which can cause your fingertips to crack.
Oils and creams will also end up on keywork and in places that are hard to reach, so they too can clog things up over time.
My hands also get sweaty whilst playing, but I keep a beer towel on my leg to wipe my hands and instruments down if things get slippery. If you don't have a hand towel and it's during a rehearsal, then use your T-shirt instead.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Matt Locker
Date: 2017-07-19 16:15
ClarinetRobt:
It appears that, for me anyway, the hand sanitizer idea actually works pretty well. It feels sticky on the hands but after a couple minutes rubbing thoroughly into the hands & letting it dry really well, the key/finger stickiness seemed to be mostly eliminated.
Thanks for the idea!
Matt
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