 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: rfunes
Date: 2018-08-11 04:04
Hello,
I have a hard time to reach the right pinkie C#/F# key, is there anything that I may be doing wrong with my right hand positioning?
I can reach all other right pinkie keys with ease, except C#/F#. It requires curving too much my right hand pinkie.
I have a Yamaha 450N, but this happens with other clarinets I tested, like Buffets and other brands, so it must be something wrong with my right hand position.
I play for so many years, and I never worried about this since there are other fingerings, but anyways I should be able to reach this key as easily as I reach any other right pinkie key, am I correct?
Thanks
Ricardo
Post Edited (2018-08-11 04:05)
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2018-08-11 04:47
First I would say that there is nothing wrong with curling your pinky.
The other issue may be HOW you hold your clarinet.
If you have the thumb rest directly on the thumb joint or even closer in to the hand, that would make things "bunch up." I have students use the natural "saddle" that exists right in between the tip of the thumb and the joint. For myself, I have been moving the clarinet closer to the tip of the thumb over the years and actually angling the thumb as if it where pointing slightly upward from the horizontal (when drawing a line from the hand to the tip of the thumb). This posture also aides against fatigue and carpal tunnel.
..............Paul Aviles
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2018-08-11 07:25
If your thumb rest is adjustable, try moving it higher. If it isn't adjustable or is already at its highest setting, try resting the bell on your knee and putting your thumb *on top* of the thumb rest. It may be that, by moving your thumb higher than your current thumb rest is positioned, your right pinkie will be freer and better able to reach back for the key.
This isn't a universal solution for everyone, but it can make a difference for some players. If it works better to have your thumb higher, you can have a tech move your thumb rest higher (and replace it with an adjustable one if yours isn't).
Karl
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2018-08-11 19:55
You have a Yamaha 450 and that's the problem - the RH pinky keys on these are positioned much lower down compared to a lot of clarinets, so they can be a real stretch for some players.
The distance between the RH F#/C# key and RH finger 3 is a considerable distance and this affects all the other RH pinky keys, so the best thing to have done is getting all the RH pinky touchpieces angled so they're in this direction // instead of being in this direction ||.
I've done this for a player as she was having trouble reaching the RH F/C and E/B keys - it involved a fair bit of keywork bending and I also removed some of the lower side of the lower ring key pillar to get the F#/C# touchpiece nice and close to RH finger 3.
She had no problem reaching these keys on my Selmers as they're angled upwards, so used my Selmer as a model and did the work while she was there so I could check the progress and make any further adjustments to get the keywork to fit her hands, as well as moving the thumbrest to make things as comfortable and natural for her.
Normally Yamaha get things right where ergonomics go, but they got it very wrong on their student model clarinets with the RH pinky keys. Sorry Yamaha, but you can do much better.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2018-08-11 21:43
Attachment: ycl250.jpg (282k)
See attachment - the one on the left is as normal and the one on the right is what can be achieved.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2018-08-12 01:02
Why isn't the rh B/E key even harder to reach than the C#/F# key? It need a wider angle for the pinky, and it's the same height, so isn't a greater stretch?
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Author: donald
Date: 2018-08-12 03:29
The problem here, if you read the op carefully, is NOT that the key is too far away for the op but the opposite--it's too close.
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2018-08-12 05:55
Thanks donald. I didn't spot that - I have relatively short pinkies, so I assumed . . . .
But then Chris P's interesting modification might worsen the op's problem, no?
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Author: rfunes
Date: 2018-08-12 08:16
Yep, the issue I have is that this key seems to be too close.
Compared to the other RH pinkie keys, the C#/F# requires the pinkie finger to be curved a little more than what I can reach reliably and with agility.
I guess that if my RH ring finger was longer, I would have a better reach on this key.
It is interesting to see that some people have customized their clarinets to make sure all keys are properly reached, seems to be something I may have to consider. Only difference is that I would like it to be more far away, not closer.
Post Edited (2018-08-12 08:17)
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Author: Mojo
Date: 2018-08-12 16:41
Your need indicates you might like a pad over the RH ring finger hole instead of a ring.
MojoMP.com
Mojo Mouthpiece Work LLC
MojoMouthpieceWork@yahoo.com
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2018-08-12 22:46
One other simple suggestion. We typically orient the clarinet mouthpiece in line with the register key (or if you think analog clock.....at the 6 o'clock position). It may help to rotate the mouthpiece more to 7 o'clock or 7:30. You're teeth keep the mouthpiece horizontal but the horn will now be a bit more counter clockwise and allow more "reach" on the right.
.............Paul Aviles.
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Author: shmuelyosef
Date: 2018-08-12 23:46
Good suggestion from Paul...I never actually thought to treat the mouthpiece rotation to be a variable on clarinet...duh....
On soprano saxophone, I have always positioned it carefully, but never thought to bring that to the clarinet
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Author: Mojo
Date: 2018-08-13 16:25
Good suggestion.
I rotate my BC counter clockwise a bit at the neck. My LH1 finger was cracking open the Ab sometimes on lower notes at the centered position.
MojoMP.com
Mojo Mouthpiece Work LLC
MojoMouthpieceWork@yahoo.com
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Author: el gitano
Date: 2018-08-13 16:46
I have the same problem with normal keys. (not in the photos)
I´m bending the four keys to be more confortable
Claus
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