 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: gerardo1000
Date: 2021-03-28 01:22
Attachment: Capture1.JPG (26k)
Attachment: Capture.JPG (14k)
Hi! I just bought a John Packer 123 beginner Eb clarinet. It has what they call a "reduced keywork" clarinet i.e there are less keys than a standard clarinet, my understanding is that I can play all notes but they have eliminated duplicate ways to finger the same note, so the keywork is somewhat simplified because there is only one way to play each note. The problem is: I cannot find a fingering chart for it. Can you help ? Thank you!!!!
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Author: kdk
Date: 2021-03-28 01:30
Unless the company that makes or distributes it publishes a chart to go with it, I'd be surprised if you'd find a fingering chart like this. You could just look for the multiple fingerings that are shown in a standard diagram for the notes that have alternates and then find the one that's on your instrument.
What is your experience with clarinet (of any size)?
Karl
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Author: davidjsc
Date: 2021-03-28 01:48
I've seen these JP simplified clarinets. First off, they are not the 'traditional' 'simple system' clarinets AKA Albert clarinets, so Albert / "simple system" fingering charts won't help you.
These JP simplified clarinets are Boehm keywork with alternate fingerings and rarely used trill keys eliminated. May sound strange for folks who learnt on a Boehm not to have alternate cross fingerings, but really not much different approach for an Albert or oboe player. When I moved from oboe to a Boehm, I found and still do I often stick to one fingering per note regardless how complex some movement may seem between fingerings, because it is just what I am used to out of habit.
Anyways, what you need to do is get a regular Boehm fingering chart and then go through it and remove any fingerings which have keys not possible on your JP. from what I recall, it is really the pinky keys which they have trimmed down - i.e. looks like they eliminated the left-hand F# key. As well as 3 of the 4 right-hand trill/alternate keys.
That is how I'd approach trying to play one of these.
I'd be curious how they have you finger the bottom-line E-flat, because the X00X00 fingering on the JP I have is really really poor. I'd hope that remaining right-hand side key is for your E-flat.
DSC
~~ Alto Clarinet; Bass Clarinet; B-flat and C Boehm Clarinets; Albert C Clarinet; Oboe ~~
Post Edited (2021-03-28 01:57)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2021-03-28 11:00
davidjsc wrote:
"I'd be curious how they have you finger the bottom-line E-flat, because the X00X00 fingering on the JP I have is really really poor. I'd hope that remaining right-hand side key is for your E-flat."
That fingering for Eb is poor on the majority of clarinets, even top level pro instruments - hence it being called 'Long Bb' as it's better suited for an upper register Bb which is in tune as opposed as a lower register Eb which is sharp.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2021-03-28 11:04)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2021-03-28 11:03
Attachment: reducedkeywork1.png (42k)
Attachment: reducedkeywork2.png (17k)
See attachments for fingering charts which I've edited and adapted from regular Boehm system ones I found online for these kind of reduced keywork clarinets:
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/download.html/1,7095/Capture1.JPG
The altissimo register D#/Eb fingering will most likely be on the flattish side using the fingering in this chart as there's no RH3 B/F# 'sliver' key which gives a much better vented and tuned note - see if using RH3 instead of RH2 is better.
Sp. Th. oxx|oox Ab/Eb
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2021-03-30 13:29)
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Author: davidjsc
Date: 2021-03-29 09:44
RE: That fingering for Eb is poor on the majority of clarinets
True - I do find of any note it varies the most between all my instruments (makes and types) although I find my two Selmers are probably the best with that note being in tune and usable.
But getting back to the John Packers, at least on mine it is especially poor, as in noticeably muffled and weak for strength/volume - from what I found to be an otherwise remarkably in-tune instrument for a budget student horn.
I think me relying on X00X00 = Eb is holdover habit from oboe playing, as it's the norm for Bb. It was also a decent note on my first clarinet. But I am slowly experimenting using XX0 and the right-side key more and more.
DSC
~~ Alto Clarinet; Bass Clarinet; B-flat and C Boehm Clarinets; Albert C Clarinet; Oboe ~~
Post Edited (2021-03-29 09:48)
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