I have an old Buffet Festival and therefore have the old bean key. I LOOOOVE it. I won’t buy another clarinet without that key. Also..dang. That is one crazy piece of music.
I'm a beginner to intermediate clarinet student and I love this key, I use it a lot with my bass clarinet and sometimes I'm pissed off because my soprano clarinet don't have it. Thanks for your videos, Michael, they're always very instructive and very fun.
Love it. I had this key added to my Buffet RC a while back. Since I was living in Paris at the time, I went directly to the factory in Mantes-La-Jolie drop my clarinet and came back a week later to get it.
I’ve been dying to get one for my R13 as an add on. But when I tried my friends with the extra Eb key I felt like it got in the way. Youre motivating me to learn to adapt. The things I do to work around when you really need an alternate fingering!
I have this key on my new clarinet. Initially, I had some trouble using it, but I have gotten used to it. I miss it, when I switch to some of my older clarinets. Great Video!
I really need that key! Right now my band is playing two pieces where my right pinky is doing gymnastics between low Ab and low Eb. My buffet alto clarinet has it and I used it a lot back when I was playing alto.
I got really lucky with this. I had played clarinet and bass clarinet for a while now but at some point in high school I switched to Tuba for some odd reason. It took me nearly 3 years to pick up a clarinet again and when I did, the bass clarinet I got from my college had the alt key and I practically relearned how to play it with that key from the get go
I don't know why someone would like to remove this key. It just make sense to have four keys for each pinky. I added a bolt-on alternate E-flay key from Rice Clarinet Works on my old (1976) Buffet RC Clarinet and it works like a charm.
Having just ordered a Q Series, I can't wait until it arrives so I can start getting used to the left hand E flat. I've seen a company that makes one you can add to an existing B flat clarinet. Maybe one of these days I'll get one for mine. Don't know if I'll ever upgrade my A clarinet though, given how rarely I use it these days.
Some of the keywork design changed in the 70s after the Series 9s, but other than a small change to the register mechanism recently nothing has changed with the contra alto
German clarinet has entered the chat😮 On my new Hammerschmiedt I have it, and it's necesary for trills, but I don't use it nearly as much as I did on french system. Bu still, on french even with the key, I got in situations when I had to roll. Btw, love this key
The ONLY key I don't use on clarinet is the LH3 Eb/Bb 'sliver' key as I prefer the side key and forked fingerings for that (I play full Boehms and added that mechanism to some other clarinets I have) as well as long Bb in the upper register. Artie Shaw also had that key removed from some of his clarinets and the tonehole completely filled in. I plug the tonehole up with a cork pad but retain the key as it keeps the LH ring keys held at the desirable height when the joints are separated. As for the LH Ab/Eb lever, I use that all the time and miss it if its not there. I needed it for two pieces when I did Grade 6. It should be standard on ALL clarinets as it's less costly to fit it during production than fitting one afterwards. I've even fitted one to a Selmer Signet 100 for a player who bought a Buffet R13 Prestige in the belief it was a better clarinet for him, but he preferred his '70s Signet 100 and missed not having that key on that, so he had me add one to it. I've got a video on my page showing another type of LH Ab/Eb lever I've added to a Marigaux clarinet. I've currently got an R13 Prestige in for a full overhaul where the LH Ab/Eb lever has been snapped off and lost, so I'm waiting for a replacement one to turn up. I can only assume whoever signed that clarinet out tried to bend it but snapped it off the key barrel, or the repairer at the band service workshop did that as he's shit at his job.
I use that key for Ab sometimes but for some reason never thought to use it for the Eb 🤯 Also glad to know that I'm not the only person who curses while practising
Could you get a left hand Eb key added to a clarinet??? I have a nice older professional model clarinet and I think this key would make my life easier if I could add it on to my clarinet instead of going out and buying a new clarinet just for one key
On my old Selmer 31 bass, that key wasn't usable because it was too far away to be practical. But on the 67, it is much more ergonomic, so I had to start a whole practice routine to put it to good use. I would argue that a truly near-useless key is the left ring finger Eb-Bb. I've practiced using it at times but never felt it to be necessary in performance. Mike, I'd like to try the exercise but the link doesn't work. Many thanks for this video!
Thanks for a great video. My Backun MOBAS are so equipped, but I find it a bit of a reach to hit the Eb Ab key. Is there a chance that this has been addressed on the Q Bass?
I guess my brain must be sharp as I was thinking this was for low Eb (OK the Ab should have been a give away(I think this really means my brain is Flat)). I think of these as G#/D# (maybe more band than orchestra thing or bad upbringing?). I am at a loss to why someone would remove this key. on my Kessler(Mk1) it is a bit hard to reach, but it has save my Brisket more than once. I am glad you showed a clarinet with this key to correct my error. (Pinky on the Brain.... wasn't that a cartoon?)
The problem with the extra Eb key is when it's implemented poorly. The Buffet solution in particular is an aesthetic disaster: it looks exactly like what it is: an afterthought that is just an ugly lash-up. It unbalances the look of the instrument (and makes it significantly heavier). Selmer do a much better job, where less metal is used, and the set of LH keys look like an integrated whole (I'm referring to soprano clarinets here, rather than bass). More practically, there is also a problem of placement: with many manuracturers the touchpiece is too high up the instrument, so that you easily hit it by accident when going for B or C#. Now, you can say "Oh, you'll get used to it", but the fact is that the existence of the Eb key inevitably means that the useable area for B/C# is reduced - with a greater likelihood of error when playing really rapid passages using those keys. And even the biggest fans of the extra Eb key would have to admit that they use B/C# a lot more than the extra Eb. So if you don't want core playability to be damaged for the sake of the occasional need for the extra Eb, then the key needs to be adjustable. Again, on Selmer this is possible as the extra touchpiece comes in from the side, so you can customise how far up the instrument it is placed and how much B/C# real estate you are personally comfortable in giving up. This is not possible with the Buffet design. So if I ever replaced my 1980-vintage Buffets with new ones, my first action would be to remove that key.
I know you probably won't see this, but could you do a review on the Anthem Bass Clarinet? Imma get one pretty soon, for rent, and need to know if it's good, or is a cheaply made, overly priced (~ $2,000 - $2,500) piece of junk.
Why did this come up when I was doing a TH-cam search for: "Evangelical prophecy - boils plague?" Does god (he, she or it) not love bass clarinetists? Still, while I'm here, I've struggled somewhat with this key my bass clarinet and have made it more accessible by extending the touch-piece. There are many times when it is needed.
I’ve never understood why people don’t like the left pinky Eb! It’s absolutely necessary for me!
I have an old Buffet Festival and therefore have the old bean key. I LOOOOVE it. I won’t buy another clarinet without that key. Also..dang. That is one crazy piece of music.
I'm a beginner to intermediate clarinet student and I love this key, I use it a lot with my bass clarinet and sometimes I'm pissed off because my soprano clarinet don't have it. Thanks for your videos, Michael, they're always very instructive and very fun.
I just bought myself a buffet R13 professional standard Bb clarinet. Now need to find the extra of that Eb key for my clarinet :)
I recently had the opportunity to try out the Backun Q Series Bass Clarinet, and oh boy, what a fabulous piece of kit! It is so freeblowing!
Love it. I had this key added to my Buffet RC a while back. Since I was living in Paris at the time, I went directly to the factory in Mantes-La-Jolie drop my clarinet and came back a week later to get it.
I have never owned a bass/clarinet with this key and I have envied it basically my entire musical life.
I’ve been dying to get one for my R13 as an add on. But when I tried my friends with the extra Eb key I felt like it got in the way. Youre motivating me to learn to adapt. The things I do to work around when you really need an alternate fingering!
I have this key on my new clarinet. Initially, I had some trouble using it, but I have gotten used to it.
I miss it, when I switch to some of my older clarinets. Great Video!
I really need that key! Right now my band is playing two pieces where my right pinky is doing gymnastics between low Ab and low Eb. My buffet alto clarinet has it and I used it a lot back when I was playing alto.
Yes! Jumping from low A-flat to a low E-flat is so much easier with having the left pinky key.
I got really lucky with this. I had played clarinet and bass clarinet for a while now but at some point in high school I switched to Tuba for some odd reason. It took me nearly 3 years to pick up a clarinet again and when I did, the bass clarinet I got from my college had the alt key and I practically relearned how to play it with that key from the get go
Never disliked this key for Ab. Convenient for when there’s tricky fingerings & has come up a lot for me
I even modded my R13 to include one of these because it's soooo useful!
I don't know why someone would like to remove this key. It just make sense to have four keys for each pinky. I added a bolt-on alternate E-flay key from Rice Clarinet Works on my old (1976) Buffet RC Clarinet and it works like a charm.
Having just ordered a Q Series, I can't wait until it arrives so I can start getting used to the left hand E flat. I've seen a company that makes one you can add to an existing B flat clarinet. Maybe one of these days I'll get one for mine. Don't know if I'll ever upgrade my A clarinet though, given how rarely I use it these days.
Without the pinky Ab key the bass line of Stand By Me would be almost impossible!
Please review Selmer's Contra-alto clarinet! I think that you will really like it because i heart that they redesigned it to be more ergonomic.
Some of the keywork design changed in the 70s after the Series 9s, but other than a small change to the register mechanism recently nothing has changed with the contra alto
I've even fitted a LH Ab/Eb lever to a Peter Eaton clarinet for someone as Peter Eaton absolutely refused to fit one, saying it's not necessary.
German clarinet has entered the chat😮
On my new Hammerschmiedt I have it, and it's necesary for trills, but I don't use it nearly as much as I did on french system.
Bu still, on french even with the key, I got in situations when I had to roll.
Btw, love this key
It’s hard to reach on my bass clarinet so that’s why I don’t use it that much.
I wish my clarinet had this key. And articulated G#…
I love it. Always have and always will.
The ONLY key I don't use on clarinet is the LH3 Eb/Bb 'sliver' key as I prefer the side key and forked fingerings for that (I play full Boehms and added that mechanism to some other clarinets I have) as well as long Bb in the upper register. Artie Shaw also had that key removed from some of his clarinets and the tonehole completely filled in. I plug the tonehole up with a cork pad but retain the key as it keeps the LH ring keys held at the desirable height when the joints are separated.
As for the LH Ab/Eb lever, I use that all the time and miss it if its not there. I needed it for two pieces when I did Grade 6. It should be standard on ALL clarinets as it's less costly to fit it during production than fitting one afterwards. I've even fitted one to a Selmer Signet 100 for a player who bought a Buffet R13 Prestige in the belief it was a better clarinet for him, but he preferred his '70s Signet 100 and missed not having that key on that, so he had me add one to it. I've got a video on my page showing another type of LH Ab/Eb lever I've added to a Marigaux clarinet.
I've currently got an R13 Prestige in for a full overhaul where the LH Ab/Eb lever has been snapped off and lost, so I'm waiting for a replacement one to turn up. I can only assume whoever signed that clarinet out tried to bend it but snapped it off the key barrel, or the repairer at the band service workshop did that as he's shit at his job.
My b-flat clarinet has 20 keys and 7 rings and I try to use all of them when I can.
I use that key for Ab sometimes but for some reason never thought to use it for the Eb 🤯
Also glad to know that I'm not the only person who curses while practising
Could you get a left hand Eb key added to a clarinet??? I have a nice older professional model clarinet and I think this key would make my life easier if I could add it on to my clarinet instead of going out and buying a new clarinet just for one key
I'd love to hear an interview with manufacturers to understand why they leave it off student horns.
On my old Selmer 31 bass, that key wasn't usable because it was too far away to be practical. But on the 67, it is much more ergonomic, so I had to start a whole practice routine to put it to good use. I would argue that a truly near-useless key is the left ring finger Eb-Bb. I've practiced using it at times but never felt it to be necessary in performance. Mike, I'd like to try the exercise but the link doesn't work. Many thanks for this video!
Fixed the link! Thanks for the head's-up.
Please add **BASS** clarinet to your title!! - as I came to look and its not for a standard treble/Mezzo Bb or A Clarinet.
Thanks for a great video. My Backun MOBAS are so equipped, but I find it a bit of a reach to hit the Eb Ab key. Is there a chance that this has been addressed on the Q Bass?
I wish I had that key :(
What's the 6th key in that LH pinky cluster?
I guess my brain must be sharp as I was thinking this was for low Eb (OK the Ab should have been a give away(I think this really means my brain is Flat)). I think of these as G#/D# (maybe more band than orchestra thing or bad upbringing?). I am at a loss to why someone would remove this key. on my Kessler(Mk1) it is a bit hard to reach, but it has save my Brisket more than once. I am glad you showed a clarinet with this key to correct my error. (Pinky on the Brain.... wasn't that a cartoon?)
The problem with the extra Eb key is when it's implemented poorly. The Buffet solution in particular is an aesthetic disaster: it looks exactly like what it is: an afterthought that is just an ugly lash-up. It unbalances the look of the instrument (and makes it significantly heavier). Selmer do a much better job, where less metal is used, and the set of LH keys look like an integrated whole (I'm referring to soprano clarinets here, rather than bass). More practically, there is also a problem of placement: with many manuracturers the touchpiece is too high up the instrument, so that you easily hit it by accident when going for B or C#. Now, you can say "Oh, you'll get used to it", but the fact is that the existence of the Eb key inevitably means that the useable area for B/C# is reduced - with a greater likelihood of error when playing really rapid passages using those keys. And even the biggest fans of the extra Eb key would have to admit that they use B/C# a lot more than the extra Eb. So if you don't want core playability to be damaged for the sake of the occasional need for the extra Eb, then the key needs to be adjustable. Again, on Selmer this is possible as the extra touchpiece comes in from the side, so you can customise how far up the instrument it is placed and how much B/C# real estate you are personally comfortable in giving up. This is not possible with the Buffet design. So if I ever replaced my 1980-vintage Buffets with new ones, my first action would be to remove that key.
Where’s the link ?
I know you probably won't see this, but could you do a review on the Anthem Bass Clarinet? Imma get one pretty soon, for rent, and need to know if it's good, or is a cheaply made, overly priced (~ $2,000 - $2,500) piece of junk.
i regret going to that ink
was hoping for tips and got Rick rolled 😭😭😭😭 in 2024😭😭😭😭
It would be nice if you had subtitles in multiple languages on your videos.
You can change the language on the video - just click the gear.
I always watch using this function, however, specifically for your channel, this option is disabled. I believe you have to activate it.
The information appears: "there are no subtitles available for this video."
link/"ra"...ra well played LOL
ayyy I predicted "fy" correctly🤣
Why did this come up when I was doing a TH-cam search for:
"Evangelical prophecy - boils plague?"
Does god (he, she or it) not love bass clarinetists?
Still, while I'm here, I've struggled somewhat with this key my bass clarinet and have made it more accessible by extending the touch-piece. There are many times when it is needed.