Clarinet Lesson: Right Hand and Thumb Position For Ease of Playing

[@jamesgibney8893]

Michelle thanks All your lessons are so clear and informative don't retire any time soon ! You are a lifeline .

[@jin-yeonkim8921]

I got thumbrest just half inch lower according to your instruction and found much easier my pinky to reach the lower keys. Thank you so much!

[@josephuntalan6593]

Michelle, This video is the only good presentation about the proper thumb rest position on the whole internet. No exaggeration, I have looked! Following your advice I lowered my thumb rest with very positive results. Thank you for your generous advice.

[@DaveNo99]

I found this video with a google search about my sore right thumb joint. I have been playing clarinet for over 40 years, but I ended up not playing for about a year and half due to COVID shutting down the bands I play in. In late October I started daily clarinet practice and my chronic right thumb joint pain slowly came back. When I think back, this issue probably started about the same time as I switched to playing my current clarinet which is about 15 years ago. I know that because that is about when I started using a neck strap to ease the stress on the thumb joint. Thanks to your excellent video Michelle, I was able to identify that my thumb rest was at least 3/8" too low for me (My "finger puppet" has my thumb just outside of my pointer finger.) I have always had an adjustable thumb rest on this clarinet and it has always been set at the maximum position upwards. After watching this video I took my clarinet to my local repair guy and he moved the screws up the maximum and I adjusted the rest properly. Instant relief! Also, I have always had to really focus on the seal on my third finger on my right hand otherwise I could sometimes get squeaks. As an added bonus, after adjusting the thumb rest that issue also went away instantly! The other added bonus is that finding this video helped me discover www.clarinetmentors.com!

[@jorgeotolio]

I'm a total beginner and I find this very helpful! I love playing the clarinet. The sound is improving quickly, but after 20 minutes I have to stop for thumb pain. Thanks a lot!!!

[@ClarinetMentors]

Thanks for the referral. I hadn't seen those thumb rests before, but they look interesting. I'll mention it to anyone who may want something like that. - Michelle

[@laurencesilberstein3939]

Hi Michelle. Have recently experienced pain in my right thumb from arthritis. Just received a Koolman Etude thumb rest and am preparing to install it on my Buffet Festival. I would encourage you to become familiar with the Etude insofar as it differs significantly from any other thumb rest that I have seen.

[@Giaella10]

Omg I've been playing for like 7 years and I just recently had a concert, I wish I saw this years ago because I've had so many problems with my thumb holding up the clarinet and my pinkie for lower notes. This is so helpful I've never thought that it was my right hands placement.

[@rapparoo]

OMG! I didnt realise the thumb rest was moveable ! ta ... these lessons are great especially over Christmas

[@ClarinetMentors]

Hi Glenn, I don't have much more expertise on thumb pain beyond correcting hand position and a good neck strap. I have heard that the braces by Stephen Fox clarinets can really help with his. I haven't seen them in action, but you may want to check it out. Of course, anything you can do to release tension in your arms, hands and shoulders tends to help this as well. Sometimes I use soreness as a cue that I am pounding my fingers too much. I wish I knew more about this! - Michelle

[@FadeXmd]

Thanks you. Helped me solve a problem with the little finger of the right hand !

[@EdKalish]

Thanks very much for your helpful tips, Michelle! Much appreciated!

[@robertlee2931]

Thank you. I am looking forward to some more of your RHD lessons. I am an older person learning the clarinet, once again.

[@leonmatthias321]

I was squeaking a lot when I went down to the clarion Eb, and moving my thumb rest position down helped with making sure the right index finger leaked less. Thanks!

[@geoffrichmond9184]

I would like to thank you for your very informative clarinet videos:-) I saw them by accident on the web and have found them very useful. I live in England and so to have access to your site has been just great. After playing for four months I have made good progress according to my teacher and your input has aided this progress. By the way, I was bought the clarinet as a 70th birthday present and am really enjoying the challenge! Geoff

[@wingliu3670]

I have been mainly self taught and my thumb had always been sore after playing. Thanks for your video now I know what to do!

[@ClarinetMentors]

I'm glad this helped.

[@georgespencer3973]

Thank you, Michelle. That was very helpful.

[@227622762276]

Many thanks for all your videos, I find them all excellent and look forward to trying them out. Thanks again. Paul.

[@ClarinetMentors]

1) Play in front of a mirror moving very slowly between a note that uses the errant fingers, and one that doesn't. Put all of your focus on the finger position. If you concentrate on this for a couple of minutes each time you practise, it will start to carry over to your other music. 2) You can practise this anywhere, without your clarinet. Just drum your fingers on your lap, or a table top as if you are playing an imaginary table. Keep all of the fingers arched, and take turns moving each one.

[@nathaliebraux4195]

I love your videos.!

[@lyndafoster9437]

Very good lesson. Thank you

[@brandonskelton]

thankyou for this wonderful informative video! Im going to buy a neck strap now because my thumb cant support the weight it feels worse than when I used to play video games for hours on end.. I want to avoid getting arthritis when im older!

[@JorgeSilva-oi7jj]

+Brandon Skelton OH!!! VC É UMA GRACINHA!!!! QUANDO FICAR MAIS VELHO! KKKKK

[@SarahSkilton]

I am a late learner, in my 40s and already have Osteoarthritis. My right thumb and wrist have been steadily increasing in pain as I refuse to use my neck strap as it is seemed as being wimpy. I decided that had to change when I was unable to pick up my coffee mug from the pain. Wear my neck strap or I stop playing. Easy choice.

[@selethiel1]

Hi Michelle, thank you so, so much for all your lessons on KZbin, such a great help you are. I just bumped into Ton Kooiman thumb rests. Looks like a great product. It totally shifts the weight of the clarinet from the end of the thumb toward the hand. So all right hand muscles are not stressed anymore bearing the full weight of the instrument. What do you think?

[@stereo123]

Do you have video about the pinky? I'm having problems with mine, the joint collapse thing is really annoying

[@heatherperry5368]

Thankyou Michelle, I have watched several of your youtube videos and found them extremely helpful. I wish I had discovered them years ago. I am attempting to get my fingers working quicker for faster passages. I have improved my left hand but the right hand I am having a little difficulty. I have a Ton Kooiman thumbrest as years ago I had too much thumb/hand pain. Have you got any advice about improving my hand positioning and dexterity of right hand finger movement with the Ton Kooiman thumb rest? regards Heather

[@ninjaaron]

OH MY GOODNESS! I've been having so much trouble with squeaking on second register G# and A, and it turns out it was because I was supporting my right hand a bit with the trill keys. Following the instructions in this video seems to have cleared it all up!

[@AudreyJpe]

This is a game changer! Thank you!

[@zamisax]

Thanks a lot for your wonderful recommendations!!!

[@eugeneyun7625]

Thank you so much for this... the straightening of my right hand feels awkward but I know practice will fix that, thank you!

[@yumakodama4469]

Thank you, this video helped me quite a bit.

[@MarkBDancer]

Really interesting and clearly explained videos - thanks. Have you seen the Kooiman Etude II thumb-rests? I find them very helpful as they shift the weight of the clarinet away from the end of the thumb and moving it much nearer to the joint, making the whole playing experience much more comfortable.

[@laurencesilberstein3939]

Hi Mark B. I just had a Koolman Etude 3 delivered to me in Florida from Colorado and am preparing to bring it into the shop so that they can position it on my Clarinet. Did you have to position yours? If so, what was the procedure?

[@MarkBDancer]

@@laurencesilberstein3939 Hi Laurence. It's simply a matter of removing the old thumb rest and fixing the grooved plate onto the instrument. Use the same holes and, importantly, the screws from the old one, as they tend to fit better. It's a do-it-yourself job really. Be prepared for your right hand to feel very different as it plays for a while, but I would never go back to the old sort of rest.

[@laurencesilberstein3939]

@@MarkBDancer Thanks Mark. Appreciate your prompt reply. Is there a difference in the placement of the holes in different clarinets?

[@MarkBDancer]

@@laurencesilberstein3939 Possibly, but I have put these on Buffet and Yamaha clarinets, both B flat and A, and even on an oboe, always using the original holes and screws and not had any bother.

[@laurencesilberstein3939]

@@MarkBDancer With the help of a clarinet tech (I had trouble getting the old screws on), I followed your directions and installed a Koolman Etude 2 put on my clarinet this afternoon. I am attaching a link to a excerpt from a book by a professor of Oboe at University of Nevada, Los Vegas, explaining how the thumb rest works anatomically. Certainly makes sense to me. Thanks again for your advice. Larry www.tonkooiman.com/index.php/26-news/37-dr-stephen-caplan-publishes-his-book-qoboemotionsq-with-entry-about-ton-kooiman-thumb-rests

[@radishraccoon3657]

This is a great video, thank you! I've just started playing again having not picked up my clarinet for about five years, and my first practice I noticed that I immediately slipped back into that really bad habit of hooking your index finger under the side keys (bad for playing technique and also quite painful after a while!). I decided that if I was going to take it up again I had to get rid of those habits, but it's been difficult to find information on thumb rest position, so this was great. Mine is adjustable and I had it on the highest setting, but I just don't think it's high enough for me, so I might look into getting it moved. I'd already ordered a neck strap! Though I didn't realize until I investigated last week that they even existed for clarinets! The sound seemed to get out of sync about halfway through the video btw...

[@ClarinetMentors]

Hi - I'm glad you found this useful. Having our hands in the right place can really help us be more comfortable, but also to play with more speed and agility. Sorry about the sound. That happens sometimes with uploads, and sometimes it is dependent upon the connection of the listener as well. Hopefully it still makes sense!

[@daveashenden4018]

Hi Michelle. I´ve just bought my first clarinet and am progressing well, I think so anyway. I´ve just watched your video on right hand position, very helpfull thankyou, however I still have a problem when attempting to play F the one with only the LH thumb and G with no fingers on the keys at all. With only the RH thumb on the thumb rest the clarinet chooses to wobble al over the place and does its own thing. And so what is the correct procedure to secure the instrument when there are no fingers on the keys. I understand that the RH should hover over the keys but if I get too close the note being played is affected. Many thanks again, excellent videos.

[@ClarinetMentors]

You are correct that we want all fingers to hover over the keys. You might want to add a neck strap for stability. It does help. BG, Rico and NeoTech all make good clarinet neckstraps. That helps to keep the instrument from pushing out when you don't have many fingers down.

[@JoshuaTanzer]

@@ClarinetMentors I have the same question. I've been learning for a couple of months, and at the beginning I could not hold the clarinet stable if playing, for example the open G with no fingers on the holes. I started using fingers from my right hand to hold the lower part of the clarinet steady between the fingers and the thumb. Bad habit? How do clarinetists work this out if not using a strap?

[@mikemolaro4198]

eureka! thanks so much! I'm an adult musician, new to the clarinet. I learned lessons the hard way about ergonomics and posture, and have been sitting with my clarinet thinking...this is idiotic. My right hand thumb is aching! Why on earth would this thumb piece be placed here, and FIXED. I should glue my own on. I'll revolutionize the way people think of the clarinet. And lo and behold! The moving thumb piece. haha. makes sense. Thanks so much for this video. Why was this not explained to me on day one!?

[@tonygarcia1266]

I have a health issue with my right shoulder that really affects my playing. After seeing your video, I am definitely going to look into purchasing a neck strap. You mentioned two brands. Which one would you recommend that I get?

[@ClarinetMentors]

I really like the BG and Neotech clarinet straps. Both have an adaptor to fit on the thumbrest if you do not have a ring already built in for one to hook on.

[@vjb007]

Thanks. I'll try the neck strap. If your hands are weak or, worse, you have hand tremor due to age or Parkinson's, the neck strap would appear to offer the best solution to securing the instrument without dropping it, and avoiding unwanted tremolo when playing.

[@clarineterbob]

My right pinkie collapses at the 1st joint just as you describe. Sometimes, the ring finger also collapses. The other fingers are fine and the hand position is good. I have been trying to correct this seemingly forever, but without intense concentration, it keeps collapsing. The same happens with my left pinkie too. You didn't say anything about how to correct this. What would help?

[@ongin8520]

thank you so much I was in such pain I thought i needed like a sax neck sleeve or something, also you have really nice eyes (:

[@ClarinetMentors]

+On Gin The neck strap is a good idea too if your hand is sore!

[@ongin8520]

its more stiff than sore but ill definitely check it out, how do you personally get rid of stiffness, do you do any exercises, stretches etc

[@willwen6141]

Thank you!

[@ThisCallumPerson]

Does the risk of RSI decrease as the fingers get stronger?

[@ClarinetMentors]

Callum Purvis Hi Callum, I'm not an expert on RSI. However, for many of my students, adjusting the thumb rest to an optimum position really reduced the strain on the thumb and wrist/tendons. From what I have been told, regular stretching and doing everything possible to reduce tension in the hands also can really improve things. For me, using a neck strap and training myself to move with much lighter finger action made a huge difference.

[@edr8010]

I have a question, when I position my right hand on and want to play a note with my pinky my pinky is kinda straight and kinda locks straight its really weird and didnt used to happen before. Could it be my hand positioning? Please help

[@ClarinetMentors]

Hard to say without seeing you, however, if you look in a mirror and your whole right hand tends to tilt upward a bit (common habit), then your pinky has to stretch much further to reach those keys. Try and tilt your hand down just a bit so your fingers are almost perpendicular to the keys and that might help.

[@edr8010]

Yeah, I had that habit and once i fixed my hands it doesn't occur anymore, thanks for the help :)

[@nathaliecharron5400]

Hi Michelle and first of all thanks a lot for your wonderful teaching videos. I happen to struggle with my right ring finger. It tenses up and "locks" at the main joint and then the other joint collapses. I have tried to correct it but without great success. Do you have any tips? I wonder if it could be "age" ..and a cld be a slight rhumatism. But anyway, do you have an idea on how to improve it?

[@anuragnaidu88]

Really helpful. Thank you.

[@qxeen2512]

What if your thumb rest falls of can you put it back on

[@ClarinetMentors]

If you have the screws, and they still work, you can screw it back on. If the screw holes have expanded, you'll likely need the help of a repair person (in which case, you should make sure it is reinstalled at the perfect height for you!).

[@mulechick21]

What about slipping right thumb? How do I fix this?

[@ClarinetMentors]

+Lorraine Chai A neck strap helps to stabilize things. If you don't have a thumb rest cushion, that would help to. It is like a big rubber pad that fits over your thumb rest and makes it cushier, but also stickier. I hope that helps.

[@jennybailey2998]

Probably my worst problem. My I've got quite small hands & finger tips so getting really good, squeak free notes is a bit of a struggle. I had a descant recorder as a kid, (over 30 years ago) & had similar problems when I first started playing.

[@TheBeardedSandman]

I've got an old Selmer that doesn't move. My thumb is killing me.

[@steniotelesbarbosa2853]

👏👏👏👏👏

[@MarkBDancer]

They use the same fixing holes as the normal thumb rest and adjust vertically for maximum comfort. I wouldn't play with any other sort now.