Expert: Rebecca - 12/1/2006

Question
Hey Rebecca,
            I have to play the chromatic scale from e to e (three octaves) for a competition.I would like to know what are all the chromatic fingerings that I need to use?

Answer
Hi Joy-

Here's a good chart:

http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/Study/FingeringCharts/bbfinger.html

Use the first choice fingering except in the following cases (same fingerings descending as ascending, but think of the notes as sharps going up and flats going down):

low B  - use 2nd option
low D#  - use 2nd option (this is my preference, some use 1st)
2nd F# from the bottom - use 2nd option
next F# (3rd from bottom, second from top) - 2nd option
3rd A# from bottom - use 2nd option
highest D#  - 2nd option

Play evenly, start slowly and gradually speed up. The most common area to sound uneven is over the break.

Good luck!

Rebecca