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Re: Thumbplate fingering for oboe

Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-11-23 12:27

Sorry for the late reply H.B.!

The thumbplate system was invented by Triebert before the conservatoire system, but it's the system that has lingered on in the UK while all others have taken to the conservatoire system as it keeps more fingers held down while playing making certain intervals and passages much easier.

It will take a bit of time to adapt to conservatoire system if you have learnt on a thumbplate system, but a thumbplate can be added to any conservatoire system oboe to make it dual system - which means both thumbplate and conservatoire fingerings can be used for Bb and C.

While the thumb remains on the thumbplate, conservatoire fingerings can be used as holding the thumbplate down reverts it back to conservatoire system. But if you like to take your thumb off for arpeggios (eg. C and F Major or G minor) then you can get Bb and C this way too.

And a lot more besides as tremolos such as G-Bb or G-C can be done with the thumb off and only trilling LH finger 3 for the Bb or fingers 2 and 3 for the C. LH finger 3 closes the Bb pad on conservatoire system, but on pure thumbplate system there's no linkage from LH 3 to the Bb pad as it's either a plain tonehole or an independant covered plate.

Though if you do have a conservatoire system oboe fitted with a thumbplate and you use thumbplate fingerings for Bb and C, you will need both Bb and C retuned (flattened) otherwise they'll be sharp with thumbplate fingerings.

And if you do have a dual system and want to get used to conservatoire fingerings, either have the thumbplate spring disengaged, have the thumbplate wedged down or take the thumbplate off (and remove the spring so you don't stab your thumb with it!).

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

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