 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Burt
Date: 2019-04-07 18:15
Due to sudden aggravation of an old injury (broken left pinky), I'm having trouble covering the left ring finger hole when I'm playing C#/G# or E/B. A friend suggested that the left ring finger hole could be modified into a plateau key.
Is this a practical solution, and who could do this work? Also, are there any reasonable solutions? I've built up the C#/G# and E/B keys with plastic, and this helps, but not enough.
Any suggestions would be welcome.
Burt Marks
Ridenour Libertas
Vandoren M30
DEG barrel
Legere European Signature 3.5
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Author: bmcgar ★2017
Date: 2019-04-07 19:02
My guess is that you're having trouble keeping the right side of the tone hole covered. Is this correct? (I've seen this several times before in people who have hand injuries, arthritis, or nerve damage.)
If it works with your injury, it might be a lot more practical and a lot cheaper to move the tone hole "down" (to your left) on the tube than to add a plateau mechanism.
B.
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Author: Steven Ocone
Date: 2019-04-07 23:12
The second ring key can be easily turned into a plateau key if you sacrifice the "one and one" Bb/Eb fingering. I did this for a customer who accidentally shortened his finger.
Steve Ocone
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2019-04-08 00:32
Are you talking about the LH "ring finger" hole ? i.e. the lowest open hole.
If so it should be a "relatively" simple conversion as there is no other mechanism linked to this tonehole.
I did something similar for an oboe playing customer who had a fore-shortened ring finger and needed a plateau type key with a short operating extension
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Author: Burt
Date: 2019-04-08 03:22
Thank you all for your suggestions.
Following bmcgar's approach, I plugged part of the hole which has no ring, and found that the right side of the hole (as viewed by somebody facing me) was not being consistently covered. With that plug, I could play the Eb/Ab consistently. (I'm not bending the ring finger enough.) It was badly out of tune, so I will have to have the hole milled half a tone hole diameter in the direction of the rods.
While I could have the pitch altered at the same time, I have no need for this.
I think that will solve the problem but, if not, I will get in touch with you, Caroline.
Burt
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