Posted by David on January 19, 2002 at 02:52:43:
In Reply to: poor thumb :( posted by Kyle Cabral on January 18, 2002 at 23:29:25:
Posture is an important key to playing comfortably. Sometimes we forget that the position of the hand is part of that posture. If you will first of all take your thumb out of the ring, you won't have this trouble. Next question is where to put the thumb. If you will think of picking up a ball, you will find a new place for your thumb. Most thumb rings are not positioned with that posture in mind. Most thumb rings are placed off to the left of the valve cluster. If this is a rotary 4 valve instrument, try putting your thumb under the 2nd valve slide. If this is a 5 valve horn, see about moving the ring and getting the linkage either moved or re-bent. If this is a piston horn, and you're the owner, see about having the ring moved. If the horn belongs to your school, ask the director about getting the ring moved. (your favorite repair person can do this) You have to make sure you are at the repair shop when the repair is done, or else the ring will probably get put in the wrong spot. Otherwise, you just have to suffer.