 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: JSwillinger
Date: 2024-09-03 03:08
I have been reflecting on what I have been taught in the past about the Eb fingering above the staff. My former teacher insisted to use the sliver key fingering and it must be vented with the right pinky Eb/Ab key, therefore ever since I have only used that fingering even if slightly awkward for the passage.
I am taking another look at the Poulenc Sonata which I had worked on with the same teacher. At measure 42 with a rapid switch between Eb and Db, the fingering is very awkward but they still insisted (although I think with much practice it is possible). I am wondering both if it is common thought for the sliver and vent to be a vital fingering and specifically what fingering you guys may use in that passage.
Very much thanks!
John
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Author: maxopf
Date: 2024-09-03 03:19
In that particular passage I play the E-flats as the standard altissimo C#/Db fingering plus the throat A key (thus to get to Db you just let go of the A key). It’s a good fingering for trills and rapid alteration between those two notes, but not so great for scale work or isolated Ebs, in which case I almost always use the standard sliver key fingering.
In the next beat of that bar I play the D flats as C plus the bottom two trill keys.
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Author: nellsonic
Date: 2024-09-03 10:00
That's a nice suggestion from Max that I had never tried. I'm adding that to the list of options when I teach this piece. Thanks!
I use TR OXX | OOX Eb for the Eb, then the regular Db fingering - trading 2 (fingers) for 2. I most commonly use this combination in scales as well, although I also practice with the standard Eb fingering. 2 for 2 consistently works slightly better for me in Eb-Db intervals.
This Eb fingering is also great for large leaps (opening of the Brahms F minor sonata, for example).
Anders
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Author: Micke Isotalo ★2017
Date: 2024-09-03 12:30
For my part I'm using TR OXX|OXO (no pinky Eb) for the Eb, then the regular OXX|XXO for the Db.
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Author: nellsonic
Date: 2024-09-04 01:37
Micke Isotalo wrote:
> For my part I'm using TR OXX|OXO (no pinky Eb) for the Eb, then
> the regular OXX|XXO for the Db.
You don't find it unusably flat? Pitch is the reason why this is not usually considered a standard fingering, even with the pinkie Eb key applied to raise the pitch. It's a shame that's the case - imagine if the only standard fingering for low B or top line F# was the fork fingering. That's the equivalent of what we'd have for the altissimo Eb if it wasn't for creative alternatives like the one Max mentioned.
Anders
Post Edited (2024-09-04 01:47)
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Author: Micke Isotalo ★2017
Date: 2024-09-04 16:39
Anders, on my setup the |OXO is about 5 cents flat, compared to both the standard |XO,O and the |OOX. At least to me, that's fully acceptable - also considering it's a quick 1/16-note. In this particular passage, I would probably accept also a somewhat bigger deviation, in exchange for a more fluid, secure fingering.
In these kind of trade-off situations, I try to evaluate what would be most disturbing for an audience - either a quick note a bit out of tune, or to hear a non-fluent, struggling passage. Also weighing in how some nervousness during a performance could add stiffness to my fingers.  Often I go for the more fluent and secure fingering.
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Author: moma4faith
Date: 2024-09-06 06:55
<Author: maxopf
Date: 2024-09-03 03:19
In that particular passage I play the E-flats as the standard altissimo C#/Db fingering plus the throat A key (thus to get to Db you just let go of the A key). It’s a good fingering for trills and rapid alteration between those two notes, but not so great for scale work or isolated Ebs, in which case I almost always use the standard sliver key fingering.
In the next beat of that bar I play the D flats as C plus the bottom two trill keys.>
Thank you for this, Max. I've never tried it and definitely will now.
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