 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Danova
Date: 2011-09-16 23:45
I have a large callous on my right thumb from the thumb rest on my bass clarinet. It's gotten worse now that marching season is going on. My neckstrap takes some weight off my thumb, but I've noticed it causing the skin to become rough and slightly painful. There's also a bump. I'm using a rubber pencil grip on the rest, but it doesn't quite work all the way. Is there anything I can do to my instrument or myself that can help me with this problem? I can post photos if needed. Thanks.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2011-09-17 03:29
I like to glue a piece of leather (perhaps from a discarded glove, or thin belt, or purse) onto the thumbhook. Suede is especially nice. You can also buy large bags (much more than you'll ever need) of leather scraps from crafts stores.
Presumably you're not a callous person, even with a callus on your thumb ![[grin]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie5.gif)
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Author: jicaino
Date: 2011-09-17 06:23
Have you tried Ton Kooiman rests? they helped me a lot when I was having severe problems on my RH thumb.
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Author: GeorgeL ★2017
Date: 2011-09-17 14:45
The problem is that you are marching with a bass clarinet. That seems like a cruel thing to do to a bass clarinet, and a more cruel thing to do to a bass clarinet player.
I only play a bass clarinet when I am seated and the instrument is supported by its peg. I put my right thumb on top of the thumb rest, which is the only way that thumb can rest on the clarinet.
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Author: Danova
Date: 2011-09-18 02:50
It's my high school's, so I can't glue anything to it. Unless there is some sort of sticky stuff that doesn't leave any residue.
PLEASE don't start the whole "Basses shouldn't march" stuff. I'm tired of it. It's a cruddy plastic clarinet that is easily repaired. There is no way I would march a wooden clarinet. I'm starting to rant here, but I absolutely hate it when people tell me what I should or shouldn't march. I know it's just advice, but I hear it constantly. And I'll be marching tenor or bari next summer, so no worries.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2011-09-18 04:56
>> It's my high school's, so I can't glue anything to it. Unless there is some sort of sticky stuff that doesn't leave any residue. <<
Yes, you can use contact glue and you can easily remove any leftovers of that glue by rolling it off with your fingers (or something else if you don't want to touch the glue). At worse case if it's hard to remove use something like rubbing alcohol or lighter fluid on some fabric, just be careful not to touch the plastic, only on the metal, and it should remove very easily. So I would first glue some cork or felt or something soft and see if that helps.
>> I only play a bass clarinet when I am seated and the instrument is supported by its peg. <<
Marching or not, some people prefer to stand with the bass and possibly march (or in my case walk, as part of a dance for example). Playing it only sitting with the peg doesn't work for everyone.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2011-09-18 16:36
Hum, marching with a bass clarinet. I always thought it strange that my Low C bass came with a lyre attachment. I took mine off years ago, we don't march in an orchestra :-). You shouldn't have any pressure on your thumb. You should get the kind of neck strap that actually goes around your back, that's what some solo players use when standing with a larger, low C, bass clarinet, same as baritone sax players do. Takes the pressure off of your thumb. ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2011-09-18 16:39
I don't march with my bass either, but just last week I had to buy a lyre, as in that specific venue there wasn't enough room for music stands let alone chairs.
Anyhow, my thumb pad still works, but after two years it's quite worn, so time to manufacture a new one...
--
Ben
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Author: Danova
Date: 2011-09-19 04:24
So the harness can actually work with bass clarinets? I thought it was only for bari. I'll check that out when I go to the music store this week and bring my bass cl. with. That should help a lot. Thank you.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2011-09-19 04:54
I play bass clarinet mostly standing with a harness. A harness "works" with any instrument with a hook ring. If it's comfortable or not you can only know if you try it. Best to try several, some felt more comfortable to me than others (and not necessarily from the same companies with straps I liked).
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-09-19 14:16
If it's the school's bass, see if you can have them pay to have an adjustable sax-style thumbhook fitted such as a Yamaha one (as fitted to their plastic basses) as these have a large and well shaped thumbhook which can be adjusted to fit your hand as they have a large amount of movement in them - not just swivelling left and right. The parts for these are available from most woodwind repair specialists.
While standing with a bass, the angle of your right arm is probably causing the problem with your thumb as the right hand fingerplates are a long way down the instrument, so having a thumbhook that can be raised, lowered and swivelled from left to right and then locked in place in the most comfortable position will be far better than a fixed metal one.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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