Playing Clarinet causes right lower arm pain

[Bari Gordon]

I get sharp pains in my right lower arm when I use my pinkie finger playing clarinet. No other fingers cause pain, nor do I get pain in my left hand pinkie.

This pain doesn't show up with any of my saxes or flute.

I have rather large hands, and I am playing a Selmet Signet clarinet.

I think the problem is caused by having the keys so close to my ring finger. C# is the most painful, whereas C and B are the least painful.

I was wondering if maybe the keys are closer together on this clarinet because it is a student model, or if all clarinets have pinkie keys spaced about the same.

Can the keys be bent to move them further out (down)?

thanks

[paulwl]

C# (F# in the chalumeau) is the most awkward of those 4 right pinkie notes by far. I think it has to do with cramping up the hand to get that right pinkie up and under for C#/F#.

Most clarinets have more or less the same spacing on these keys, give or take a few mm - probably not enough to help your problem. But there is one thing that probably will help. Try a Claricord from DEG (about $10) or a clarinet strap from BG (about $30). These attach to your thumbhook or lower joint and support the weight of the horn like a sax.

The BG took care of my chronic right hand and thumb pain quite nicely, and is sturdy enough to double as an alto/tenor sax strap if needed. With the weight off your right thumb, many aches and crabs can be ameliorated...

[Bari Gordon]

Paul
Thanks for the suggestion. I will try one out

[Jazzophone]

I get the same sort of thing ... except nothing to do with the pinky finger, just when I stretch out after a while of playing (I started learning around the end of February or so just for the school musical so I don't do a lot of clarinet) -- I get shooting pain through the lower right arm just in the inner muscles up to the crook of my elbow. Is that normal? It's a little creepy. :?

[Roger Aldridge]

Another option, besides using a neck strap on clarinet, is to rest the clarinet bell on your leg. This will dramatically lessen the weight of the instrument on your right hand. This is how I normally play clarinet (as well as soprano sax) when I'm sitting down.

Of course, it's akward to use this playing position standing up -- unless you've practiced yoga for a while. :lol:

[Jazzophone]

I only get it standing up ... :shock: Got any yoga books? lol

[Riff]

Life is too short to play clarinet.
:wink:

[Jazzophone]

:lol:

[TrebleClef]

Sorry for invading your site guys, but I've played clarinet for six years now. Though I have relatively short fingers, I have experienced the pain you described, though not just because of moving a finger for a key. In regards to getting your keys bent and moved around, I know it's possible, but it may be difficult on a student model, depending on the make of your keys. I own a buffet with silver plated keys and the store I bought it from has offered to make adjustments to the keys as needed. However, DON'T REST THE BELL ON YOUR KNEE! In a judged concert or during solo and ensemble while you're sitting down, a judge will take points away for incorrect posture. (Same goes for hunching your back so you can rest an elbow on your knee.) When I'm standing and playing for a long period of time I'm more likely to feel the pain you described. It's mostly during marching band, and when I do the sharp "out and down" during stand-up marching concerts, my right arm will even go numb for a few seconds. I think it's all a matter of how long you've been playing and I don't know of any serious medical problems related to this. You'd be better off trying that neck strap and seeing what works best for you.