 The Fingering Forum
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Author: Jørgen Münster
Date: 2010-12-05 21:54
This A is one of the most flexible tones on the clarinet, i.e. if you play ppp it tends to be high in pitch, and if you play fff it will most often flatten. You will almost always have to adjust the pitch by adding fingers or leaving them out.
Adding fingers have one more purpose: it will improve the sound of the tone. Playing the A will only use the very top part of the clarinet giving very little support to the tone. By adding all fingers on the right hand (pres the C/F key with the fifth finger) you will create a tube that will enhance the sound. At the same time, adding these fingers will make the shift to the B and C above much easier.
Before you ask for any modifications of your clarinet make sure that it is in tune. You may have to adjust the barrel, and pulling it as little as one twentieth inch will flatten the A considerably. You may need a tuner to find the right position of the barrel.
I prefer that my A is in tune when I add all my right hand fingers. When I play ppp (and there is time for it) I add the fourth finger of my left hand and maybe even the third finger. When playing fff I might have to leave out the right hand.
By the way, it is even possible to raise the pitch by adding fingers! Play the A with the left index finger and add only the third and fourth finger on the left hand. This will raise the tone on most clarinets.
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Riona |
2010-06-29 19:27 |
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Jaysne |
2010-08-11 12:08 |
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Re: alternate fingering for A? new |
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Jørgen Münster |
2010-12-05 21:54 |
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