 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2017-09-27 22:03
I've somehow made it through my entire clarinet life (thus far) without a clear understanding of how "keys" are counted on the clarinet. I guess, in part, it is because this was never all that important to me.
However, in conversations about Albert systems, I'm realizing the importance of knowing how many "keys" are on an instrument.
I play on an Albert which I've always classified as a "14-key" Albert...but now I'm questioning this again.
How do I accurately determine the number of "keys" on a clarinet (especially simple system/Alberts)?
Thanks!
Fuzzy
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Author: KaiLiau
Date: 2017-09-27 22:28
I think this is the number of finger accessible "key" parts with pads attached directly, so this doesn't include the left hand pinky keys that control the E/F#/G#, and left thumb ring key.
Post Edited (2017-09-27 23:03)
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Author: dubrosa22
Date: 2017-09-28 04:16
Attachment: 13_key_description_klose.jpg (770k)
Attachment: 13_key_fingerchart_klose.jpg (767k)
The issue of numbers of keys came up in discussion here:
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=444339&t=444339
Each 'key' is any touchpiece and any padded keycup (so it includes 'ring-keys').
The H. E. Klose pages attached describe and count each key on a typical 13-key Albert/Simple System.
V
Ps. text from the description on page 9 of the H. E. Klosé book 'Clarinet School' published by Hawkes & Son in 1906:
"Description and fingering of the Keys.
(Simple System).
Key No. 1 - Is an open key to which a lever is attached, and is closed by the fourth finger of the left hand, all other keys and holes being closed, produces the notes E and B.
Key No. 13 must be opened for all notes above A, in the second space.
Key No. 2 - Is a closed key and is opened by the fourth finger of the left hand also, all other keys and holes being closed, excepting No. 1, (which remains open) produces F# or Gb and C# and Db.
Key No. 3 - Is an open key, and is closed by the fourth finger of the right hand, all other keys and holes being closed, produces F and C.
Key No. 4 - Is a closed key, and is opened by the fourth finger of the right hand, all other keys and holes being closed, excepting Nos. 1 and 3 (which remain open) produces Ab or G# and Eb or D#.
Key No. 5 - Is a closed key, and is opened by the third finger of the right hand, all other keys and holes above it being closed, produces Bb or A# and F or E#.
Ring-Key No. 6 - Is an open key, and is closed by the action of the rings which surround the second and third finger-holes on the lower joint, right hand.
Key No. 7 - Is a closed key, and is opened by the fourth finger of the left hand, all other keys and holes above it being closed, produces C# or Db and G# or Ab.
Key No. 8 - Is a closed key, and is opened by the third finger of the left hand, all other keys and holes above it being closed, produces Eb or D# and Bb or A#.
Key No. 9 - Is a closed key, and is opened by the first finger of the right hand, all other keys above it, and the thumb hole being closed, produces F or E# and C or B#.
Key No. 10 - Is a closed key, and is opened by the second finger of the left hand, all other keys above it being closed, and all holes open, produces Ab or G#.
Key No. 11 - Is a closed key, and is opened by the first finger of the left hand, all other keys above it being closed, and all holes open, produces A.
Shake-Key No. 12 - Is a closed key, and is opened by the first finger of the right hand and is used only for making shakes.
Thumb key No. 13 - Is a closed key, and is opened by the thumb of the left hand, all other keys being closed, excepting No. 11 and all holes open, produces A# or Bb and is kept open for all notes above A, in the second octave.
Key X - on the lower joint (extra C# key). Is an open key connected with keys 1 and 3, and is closed by the fourth finger of the left hand on key No. 1, all other keys and holes above it being closed, produces F#, Gb, C# or Db."
Post Edited (2017-09-28 04:24)
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Author: ned
Date: 2017-09-28 05:32
dubrossa wrote: ''...Each 'key' is any touchpiece and any padded keycup (so it includes 'ring-keys')....''
I'm not so sure I agree that key rings should be included.
My view is that keys operate levers which have at the other end, a pad which opens or closes a hole, in order to facilitate a change from one note to a higher or lower note.
All of the clarinets which I own have a small number of rings, either two or four, and none of them facilitate playing a scale or other sequence of notes.
The rings on my instruments operate pads rightly enough, but are there solely there to cover pitch compensation holes.
As for the attachment illustrating the keywork, I am having a deal of trouble reading the numbers themselves to see if the key count matches any of my ''Alberts''.
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Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2017-09-28 05:48
dubrosa22 - thanks for the referral, and all the great images!
Some of the images weren't large enough for me to see the details...but I have a theory which has held up for the instruments I've been able to see clearly.
The systems' key totals (in the price charts) always seem to equal the number of pads on the clarinet. Meaning, I count 15 pads on the instruments labeled as "15 key" instruments. I count 13 pads on instruments sold as 13-key instruments, etc.
In that case, my instrument would actually be a 15 key, two ring instrument, and not the 14 key instrument I always referred to it as.
What is everyone's thought on this theory? Does it hold true?
Fuzzy
Edit: Corrected spelling
Post Edited (2017-09-28 05:55)
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Author: dubrosa22
Date: 2017-09-28 06:32
The numbered illustrative photos in the Klosé pages is quite hard to read in both the images attached here, and in the original printed copy. Not much I can do about it, sorry.
The text which I transcribed above pretty much describes the numbering top-down.
V
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2017-09-28 07:41
A key has a pad on it, so usually you can count the pads and that's the number of keys.
For example on a regular Boehm clarinet, the thumb ring is not a key, but the first finger left hand ring key is a key (it has a pad).
This is for the number of keys on clarinet (usually). For communication a lot of times people would refer to almost any "key" as a key e.g. the thumb key.
There are some tricky cases, like double keys e.g. some older saxophone G keys or bass clarinet F/C keys. These instruments are pretty much never referred to by the number of keys anyway.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2017-09-28 10:06
>> The Thumb Ring has a padded key (by linkage) <<
Exactly "by linkage". This is first finger ring key and the thumb ring "key" just operates it. This is why it's not considered a key when referring to the number of keys on a clarinet. Touchpieces or rings that operate other keys are not considered keys in that sense. The same as you wouldn't count the D/A key twice because it is also operated by the right hand rings.
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The Clarinet Pages
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