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Re: White Knuckle Players...

Author: Chris P
Date: 2018-06-13 01:28

Operating ring keys shouldn't be at the forefront of your consciousness - they're only there to operate a pad cup out of reach or control a vent by simply lowering or raising a finger naturally and not having to force them down.

If you feel you're having to physically operate the ring keys just as you operate other keys every time, then something needs addressing which is a number of things - spring tension, pad seating, regulation with other keys or their heights in how they sit in relation to the tonehole chimneys (as opposed to the venting of the ring key pad).

I see a lot of Buffets with the incorrect thickness pads used as Buffet pads being thin aren't easy to source, so that can lead to the ring keys sitting far too high above the chimneys when the ring key pads are closed. Some repairers completely overlook that factor and the thick pad is likely to leak at the front, so that can cause players to force the ring keys closed during playing.

Another danger is if the ring keys are sitting too high when the ring key pad is closed, the fingertips may not be able to fully close the toneholes and the resulting squeaks will further lead to frustration and even more tension in the hands and fingers.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.

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