The Oboe BBoard

The Oboe BBoard The C4 standard

New Topic | Go to Top | Go to Topic | Search | Help/Rules | Smileys/Notes | Log In

Re: Tight Fingers

Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-08-11 20:24

The ring finger isn't the most agile of fingers and it moves in conjunction with the little finger due to the way the muscles and tendons are connected.

If you place your fingertips on a table with your arm raised and then lift each finger in turn, the finger with the least agility is the ring finger.

The only thing to do is get used to forcing yourself to lifting it cleanly and be conscious of it when going from F# to A. Practice this interval sowly and cleanly, then gradually build up the speed. Rotate your wrist upwards as you lift off LH finger 3 as well (and this is especially beneficial in the upper register when switching the 8ve keys over).

I get told off for slapping my ring fingers down by my oboe teacher - she's surprised at this being the ring finger is the weakest, but as I've played sax for a lot longer than oboe the ring fingers on both hands do have to work hard - the LH ring finger has to close a heavily sprung key as this key makes the 8ve mechanism to switch over in the upper register and needs to have a heavy spring to be sure the lower vent closes, and the RH ring finger has a pretty large fingerplate to close.

Do you play sax as well? Maybe this could help build up your finger strength.

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

Reply To Message | Avail. Forums | Flat View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Topics