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Re: What is the left hand Eb/Bb for?

Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-11-03 21:56

As this key isn't fitted to other woodwinds I play regularly (but is fitted to my bassoons which I don't play regularly), I don't use it and never have done on clarinet as I find it awkward to use. I've even blocked off the tonehole as the last thing I want to do is catch this key as it does get in the way a bit, especially on C and Eb clarinet and on my basset horn and bass (where I've removed this key completely).

I prefer to use the side Eb/Bb key, the long Bb fingerings (sometimes as an Eb if I can get away with the slightly sharp nature of this note as a D#/Eb in the lower register) and forked Eb/Bb (xox|ooo) as my clarinets all have this mechanism fitted (either from the factory or built and fitted myself) which gives a good note in both registers.

I don't know many players that use this fingering (only two - one of which started on a simple system which only had this Eb/Bb key and no side Eb/Bb key) - my teacher certainly didn't use it and if he didn't like using it then I respect his better judgement.

It might be the fact I'm right handed, but oboes have a similar key in the right hand for F natural (xxx|xx/o) which I don't find all that awkward to use (probably due to the much wider finger spacing), along with the forked F fingering (xxx|xox) and the LH F key (in a similar place as the LH Ab/Eb lever on clarinets with 18 keys or more). Oehler, German and simple/Albert systems also have the same RH F key (Bb/F key) as oboes as well as the forked fingering and sometimes a LH Bb/F lever - they also have the LH Eb/Bb key as standard, but most basic simple/Albert systems don't have the side Eb/Bb key so only have the cross key.

On Boehm system clarinets the LH Eb/Bb key is a throwback to simple/Albert systems, so I suppose it was fitted to Boehms so players changing from Albert/simple system to Boehm system still had the Eb/Bb fingering they were accustomed to.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.

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What is the left hand Eb/Bb for? new

Matt74

2013-11-02 18:12