How is one supposed to move smoothly between middle C and the Eb above?

Just been looking at my part for the clarinet ensemble on Sat and it's mostly all right but I can't work out a way of moving neatly between the Eb and the C - both ways. Most of the time it isn't very exposed, I have bits of tune but am assuming (hoping...) others do too, but must confess to a slight panic seeing G Bnat C Eb G in quavers marked "solo" towards the end.

Any help appreciated, even something that is cheating, if it can make me able to play that without messing up by Saturday afternoon

Do you mean middle C or the C an octave above (where you need RH little finger to move between two of the four keys at the bottom of clarinet)?

I've got the clarinet 2 part of this (Sleeping Beauty? - thanks Skylark!!) and I've got a nasty run like that too.

You have to remember to use LH C so you can use RH Eb straight after. Fortunately this was in one of my grade 4 pieces, so I do (theoretically!) know which fingers to use. However I have difficulty with these keys as I broke my wedding ring finger and severely knackered all the tendons on my LH little finger in a fall 4 years ago (dancing with the Brownies!!), and I can't bend those fingers particularly well.

If you really mean middle C, I don't think that's a problem - you just remove the LH little finger at the same time as you press the lowest of the four RH "side of finger" keys (bad description but I know what I mean!!) to get from C to Eb.

See you Saturday

Middle C - I am sure it shouldn't be a problem, but I don't really play the clarinet - I'm not sure it's been out of its case since April! (last time I played in a forum concert )

(Your hand injury sounds painful )


I don't know which ones you mean... sorry, probably being dim. C being thumb and 1-2-3 on LH yesno? And Eb - Thumb, 1-2, and the little key between the C and the D keys (argh, that isn't a good desciption either )

Is there an alternate fingering for Eb involving other keys? Any enlightenment very welcome - I don't think I even have a fingering chart

Like I say - I'm not a clarinetist!! I don't want to wreck the ensemble

Sarah, there are *always* alternate fingerings on the clarinet. It's what keeps us sane (well, OK, that might have failed in my case... ).

In this case, the Eb which is D + the bottom one of the group of four trill keys on the RH side of the upper joint is the best Eb to use. Try going from C to D a few times to get used to lifting your LH ring finger; when you're used to that, press the trill key at the same time as you lift your LH ring finger. Take it slowly at first!

Hope that helps, but if you want an alternate Eb, try LH thumb and both index fingers

OK thanks guys - I really should get stuck in and attempt to learn this thing to some reasonable level

That is a difficult bit to get smooth! I still have trouble with it - the answer is practise or 'long' Eb fingering, as Deborah said.

I would avoid the long Eb for all but the fastest of passages - on most clarinets it is quite stuffy and out of tune.

Is that meant to be second choice?
That's the one I generally use.

Yeah, I use that one usually too and that was the one I meant when I said the "side of the RH finger" keys.

D plus side key is the standard fingering for Eb. The long fingering is only ever used in fast passages, and I can only think of two offhand. Poulenc first movement in the middle section, and the Messager arpeggio bits, just before the cadenza.

It really is just practise, practise, practise.

However, I am worried about survival, not Poulenc - I make no claim to be a clarinetist! therefore, I am grateful for the alternative fingerings which can save my bacon.

I use 'side key' Eb where possible too sbhoa.

Using the side key Eb is probably the most convenient way of getting from middle C to Eb. Long Eb (thumb and both index fingers) doesn't tend to be as 'nice' a note as side key Eb.