The B flat thumb key?

sinebar · Post by **sinebar** » Sat May 17, 2008 12:13 pm

Is it correct to slide the left thumb to play the B flat or use the alternate fingering?

Phineas · Post by **Phineas** » Sat May 17, 2008 12:48 pm

I play so many tunes that have floating key signatures, I have gotten use to playing 2 finger Bb most of the time instead of the Thumb Bb. In some paassages thumb Bb gets in the way. Refer to this chart.

http://www.wfg.woodwind.org/flute/ofl_bas_1.html

I like the way thumb Bb sounds the best, but it does not pair up very well with B in a passage.

Hope this helps!

Phineas

vampav8trix · Post by **vampav8trix** » Sat May 17, 2008 9:20 pm

When I was younger and played the flute the first time around, I developed a thumbroll technique. I played all Bb's with the thumb key. I was probably not playing music quite as advanced as I am attempting to play now.

I have read on another forum that James Galway rolls his Bb thumb key.

Now, I use what is most convienent. I have a pretty good memory and can remember most times which Bb that I am using is comming up in the next few measures so I prepare accordingly.

For really quick passages, I use the thumb key 99% of the time. If I am playing something cromatic, I use the right index finger.

I do recall that I used to be able to play a fast cromatic scale with the Bb thumb key. I played flight of the bumblebee in 9th grade and I am pretty sure I used the thumb key.

I am going to have to figure out how I did that!

I am rambleing.

I just use what ever works.

fluttiegurl · Post by **fluttiegurl** » Sun May 18, 2008 6:36 am

I use the thumb key the most, but only when I do not have B flats or high F sharps. Rolling between the two makes my hand tense up, so I avoid it.

vampav8trix · Post by **vampav8trix** » Sun May 18, 2008 6:47 am

fluttiegurl wrote:I use the thumb key the most, but only when I do not have B flats or high F sharps. Rolling between the two makes my hand tense up, so I avoid it.

You are right about that fluttiegurl. You have to watch those high F#s. They just don't come out with that Bb thumb key.

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Sun May 18, 2008 8:12 am

I use "Thumb Bb" almost exclusively. But, the size of my hands and the proportion of my thumb [shorter than normal], I pretty much have to use thumb Bb.

But, I have developed as mentioned above a "thumbroll" technique.

I used it a lot when I played Ibert this past semester. Only once or twice did I ever have to use the idex finger fingering for Bb.

sinebar · Post by **sinebar** » Sun May 18, 2008 1:41 pm

fluteguy18 wrote:I use "Thumb Bb" almost exclusively. But, the size of my hands and the proportion of my thumb [shorter than normal], I pretty much have to use thumb Bb.

But, I have developed as mentioned above a "thumbroll" technique.

I used it a lot when I played Ibert this past semester. Only once or twice did I ever have to use the idex finger fingering for Bb.

Ok so I have gathered then that it really depends on personal preferance?

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Sun May 18, 2008 2:48 pm

I certainly think it is personal preference. And, part of it is geographic as well. I have a friend who lives in Taiwan, and everyone she knows has been taught to use the thumb Bb. Here in the the Ohio valley, it is more common to use the other fingering.

Leelee · Post by **Leelee** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:02 pm

I've always been taught to use the thumb Bb whenever possible. I don't have a problem remembering when to switch to the other fingering when necessary (usually --

).

FluteFellow · Post by **FluteFellow** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 5:41 pm

My first flute teacher always told me to never slide my thumb. Although I would say I don't completely agree with that rule.

I think the issue is more complicated then a strict rule. For example, if you were sliding your thumb while holding a note (say Eb) where it didn't change the pitch (tone/tuning) of the note, I would say go for it. But if the pitch did change (say Bb to B natural) I would use a different fingering. I find that sliding is not as precise and it is difficult to get a clean change in note when sliding. Ultimately it would be best to be comfortable with all the different fingerings, each will be useful in certain situations.

But as for whether to use the thumb Bb or one of the other fingerings on a regular basis, as others have said, completely personal preference.

pied_piper · Post by **pied_piper** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 7:37 pm

I agree with the advice to not slide the thumb, but there is an alternative. Instead of sliding the thumb, keep it positioned over both keys and use a rocking motion from the thumb first knuckle. That's a lot more efficient since there is less movement, however it's still better to use other fingerings for B to Bb. The thumb motion is not as quite agile as the other fingers, but it's still a useful technique.

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 8:44 pm

Yeah. I never "slide" from B natural to a Thumb Bb if they are in succession. If there are B naturals and flats within the music, but not in succession, then I switch back and forth when possible. Simply sliding between the two isn't as agile or as clean as I want it to be.