 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Pschneid24
Date: 2023-03-07 00:44
Hello all. New here.
I am getting back into clarinet after approximately 30 years. Used to be able to play the Weber concertos and the Mozart pretty well for a high school kid, played in the Meremblum junior symphony, which I think is long gone now. All is going well, but I have had some trouble getting my right hand 4th and 5th fingers to sit well on the d#. Took my old horn (a le blanc LL) to a tech who told me there were no technical issues, I just needed to practice. She determined that my right hand fingers were inappropriately hitting the sliver key just a bit. when we taped that key, all was fixed.
I decided that I could afford a new clarinet and bought a new buffet r-13, which sounds great and is a joy to play. the problem seems to be about 90% gone, but occasionally i still run into the same issue. I was wondering if anybody had any insight into this problem. It feels like my right fingers might just be a bit "lazy" and are slipping down too much, but why would this be rectified on the Buffet? Any thoughts on specific things I can do to help with this issue? thanks very much, Paul Schneider.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2023-03-07 03:04
Can you clarify the issue? What I am hearing is that when you engage the top right hand pinky key (Ab/Eb) then your third finger hits/opens the sliver key located between RH 2 and 3 fingers.
Is that right?
The sliver key can be manipulated (bent) lower to the body of the horn, AND/OR closer or further from the bottom of the horn so that it sits right in between those two fingers. I think the Buffets feature a rather thin sliver key.....which helps. Some clarinets leave this key a little broader and that can be easier to nudge open.
When you do want to engage the sliver key, it is best to place your finger close to the rod for the rings. This allows more room for the 3rd finger tone hole to vent cleanly.
..............Paul Aviles
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Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2023-03-07 06:28
Two things which might be worth checking (and which might have changed in the past 30 years):
1. Thumb placement on the thumb rest
2. Thumb angle/tension as you play (do you relax your hand more/change angle as you play?)
Thumb position can somewhat dictate finger angle for the rest of the right hand.
(Sorry to hear you gave up on the LL - wonderful instrument!)
Fuzzy
;^)>>>
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Author: Pschneid24
Date: 2023-03-07 08:55
Yes thanks for these great comments. My best understanding is that my right middle finger tends to roll outwards ( towards the bell) ever so slightly when playing d (all fingers down) or d# just above it, sometimes. This roll causes my right mid finger to nudge the sliver key just enough to make the note not sound. I have to admit in only some jest that I have been pretty thoughtless about what exactly my r thumb does at the rest, much less whether it changes position, etc, but something important for me to begin thinking about.
I have to say I loved my Le Blanc from age 10 to 58. It always served me well. But having literally never played anything else, I couldn’t resist the urge to play the field when I could afford it.
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Author: nellsonic
Date: 2023-03-07 12:45
A week or so of slow practice in front of a mirror should go a long way towards clearing this up. Should only take about 5 minutes a day. Play the two note combinations that cause problems back and forth many times, starting with the simplest ones. Very slowly at first and then progressively faster as consistency is achieved. Thumb position, as noted by Fuzzy, can be a significant factor. Be sure the air stays steady and strong, and that you are not trying to cheat your way around the problem by messing with the air. A neckstrap can be helpful if you notice any tension or discomfort as you do this work and/or try to adjust your thumb position. The mirror is helpful in keeping your brain focused on the issue and in gathering evidence as to the exact nature of the problem.
Longer term, the first exercise in JeanJean's Vade Mecum, in particular, can be really useful in making sure that every finger is functioning as best it can. Most of that book is actually focused on this in one way or another.
Anders
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2023-03-07 15:13
Yeah, I think this has been a bit if an issue for me over the years. That's one of those little tweaks I do to a horn when I get a new one........determine exactly where that RH sliver key resides between my 2nd and 3rd fingers. I do bend it "down" a bit. BUT you don't want to start bumping the sliver key with the 3rd finger so it's a bit of a balancing act.
To avoid carpal tunnel related hand stress (caused by less than desirable way to use the thumb) I'd recommend supporting the clarinet with the thumb horizontal to the floor, engaging the thumb muscles (the line formed by the base of the thumb to the thumb nail). Elsa Ludwig-Verdehr actually has her students hold the clarinet so that the thumb is pointing UP slightly (again following a line from the base of the thumb to the nail). This way, the weight of the horn is distributed through the arm and skeletal system. The poorest choice is letting the thumb sag causing all the weight to be supported by your thumb's connective tissue (pain pain pain!).
................Paul Aviles
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Author: SunnyDaze
Date: 2023-03-07 16:38
When I'm working on finger position I often use my webcam and get the picture to display live on my computer screen.
The webcam is on a long wire, so I can position it very carefully get a good close view of the part I'm interested in, while also positioning myself in right place to see the screen.
In windows 10, if you open the "camera" application, then you get to see what the webcam can see, live on screen.
It's great for getting a really close view of what's going on with specific fingers.
If you want to record video of what is happening, then you click the video camera button at the right side to switch from still photos to video mode, and then click the big red button on the centre right to start recording.
If you then open the application called "photos" then you will see the video that was recorded. You can upload that video to youtube, and post the link here so we can watch it. If that would be helpful.
Adult learner, Grade 3
Equipment: Yamaha Custom CX Bb, Fobes 10K CF mp,
Legere Soprano Sax American Cut #2, Vandoren Optimum German Lig.
Post Edited (2023-03-07 20:39)
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