Lesson 11: F-sharp and Cross-Fingerings
- Play low F# clearly with its new fingering.
- Play low B clearly with its new fingering.
- Keep F# in tune in a short melody.
- Keep B natural in tune in a short melody.
Keep the cross-fingered note clear and in tune.
A sharp sign (#) raises a note by one half-step, the smallest step between notes. Low F# uses a cross-fingering: an open hole between closed ones.
Play low B natural where you used Bb before. Its cross-fingering has an open hole between closed ones; your new key is C major.
Low F#
Low B
Close the thumb and all left holes. Right index up, middle and ring down.
Close the thumb and all left holes. Right index up, middle and ring down.
Hold the new note first, then tongue each change to its neighbour.
Hold the new note first, then tongue each change to its neighbour.
Start slowly; high notes wait until the thumb-vent lessons.
Play: Au clair de la lune — middle phrase
Connect the descending steps into the held low note.
Widor, Vieilles chansons, p. 6; melody only, public domain.
Now play these
- Go Tell Aunt Rhody
- Keep two quarter note beats in each bar.
- Au Clair de la Lune
- Its third phrase uses today’s low note; count all three phrase-ending quarter rests.
- Bingo
- Its last line walks up through it.
When your recording has a steady melody with a clear F#, continue to Lesson 12.
When your recording has a steady melody with a clear B natural, continue to Lesson 12.
F# muffled or unequal? See troubleshooting.