Crane Duet and finger lengths

[springer52]

I've just been reading with interest Kurt Baun's excellent article on inner, outer and neutral hand positions for efficient fingering on the Crane Duet.

 

I'm at a beginner level but I would like to ultimately progress further then just "the basics" so this is helpful to know.

 

My only concern with playing the Crane by mean's of "home fingers" dedicated to their own specific columns is that I have very small hands.

For example my little finger can only extend (reliably) as far as C# in the right hand (B flat left) - i.e. 3 rows up. Beyond that (4th row) is a major stretch and can't be played at speed while the 5th row is impossible for me and i have to use finger 3 exclusively instead.

 

So it is impossible for me to cover the entire outer column with just finger 4. I have to use the 3rd finger on higher notes, which rather spoils that nice systematic approach.

 

I am curious to know how many other Crane players out there can or cannot reach 5 rows (or even 6 rows as my 55 button Crane has in the right hand) using only finger 4 for the outer column.

 

I find trying to cover all 5 columns with only 3 of my fingers (when playing above the 3rd row) to be very frustrating and I'm concerned that it will prove a major limitation to my development longer term.

Edited April 10 by springer52
edited for typos

[SIMON GABRIELOW]

I have no experience of the duet system, although. I have seen them..

But here's a thought; could you extend that little finger by perhaps using a sort of  thimble type cover on your finger; sounds a bit "off the walk".  I realise ..but you never know it could give extra length to that digit! ( Need not be a metal thimble) 

Perhaps a home made soft tube!

Probably sounds silly.. Don't know if will work.. just a thought.🌝

[springer52]

8 hours ago, SIMON GABRIELOW said:

could you extend that little finger by perhaps using a sort of  thimble type cover finger

Thanks Simon. it's an interesting idea and nothing to lose by trying it.

 

I had hoped some fellow Crane players might have chipped in by now with how many rows of the outer column their pinkies can reach. That would give me something to compare with.

 

But it all seems pretty quiet. Maybe folks are on Easter hols.

 

Thanks again

 

[RAc]

Hi springer52,

 

sorry for not responding earlier.

 

From your elaborations it is not quite clear whether your problem is mostly related to the upper rows of your Crane or applies to all rows.

 

On my two smaller Cranes (45 and 48 buttons, respectively), I can by now cover almost all of the outer buttons comfortably, but on my 55, the upper rows still require some stretching, in particular when it comes to the outer columns. I believe this is to be expected (I would label my hands average size).

 

Maybe you could produce a wee video of your right hand in action for us to check if there are obvious things to improve? If you would like to keep that private, please feel free to send me a link to it via PM.

Edited April 12 by RAc

[springer52]

1 hour ago, RAc said:

Hi springer52,

 

sorry for not responding earlier.

 

From your elaborations it is not quite clear whether your problem is mostly related to the upper rows of your Crane or applies to all rows.

 

On my two smaller Cranes (45 and 48 buttons, respectively), I can by now cover almost all of the outer buttons comfortably, but on my 55, the upper rows still require some stretching, in particular when it comes to the outer columns. I believe this is to be expected (I would label my hands average size).

 

Maybe you could produce a wee video of your right hand in action for us to check if there are obvious things to improve? If you would like to keep that private, please feel free to send me a link to it via PM.

 

Hi RAc

 

Thanks for your comments. My main reach problem is with my pinky finger. I can manage the other fingers just about ok on my 55 button Crane.

Now that I've checked it it again since my OP I find I can stretch my pinky to get to the 4th button along the outer column (F#) but it is a real stretch and playing anything other than very slowly would be unrealistic with it, right now anyway unless stretching will improve over time.

The 5th and 6th buttons out along the that outer column require me to use my 3rd finger instead which means I can't use the ideas in Kurt's article because I can't maintain an "outer position" (pinky all the way to the highest button of the outer column).

 

It's helpful to know to what extent I am alone in this problem (due to my shorter then average fingers) compared to other Crane players in general.

 

It sounds like your pinky can reach that top E flat on your 55 key box (with stretching)?

I'm not sure if I've understood that right though.

 

In order to properly adopt those inner and outer position techniques getting my pinky to somehow cover the entire outer column seems essential, by definition.

 

*So perhaps a simpler way to explain would be that I can't use my pinky for any of the notes on rows 5 and 6 of my 55 button box.*

Even at row 4 it is stretched out so straight that it invariably ends up pressing buttons below the intended one at the same time.

 

I can post a video if the above isn't any clearer.

 

And thanks again for help.

Edited April 12 by springer52

[SIMON GABRIELOW]

Sometimes it can be a concern for people trying a different approach to playing instruments; I have been criticised for putting my whole hands beneath straps of my Anglo system concertina, but it works for me🌝..

So, maybe you will indeed have to dare to do things a bit differently, particularly as it could, in the long term, be the most convenient approach to a solution for your deemed problem.

The techniques traditionally taught are good for general use, however, for those with smaller hands, etc... Maybe adapting to a personal technique may be best?

 

[springer52]

 

25 minutes ago, SIMON GABRIELOW said:

Sometimes it can be a concern for people trying a different approach to playing instruments; I have been criticised for putting my whole hands beneath straps of my Anglo system concertina, but it works for me🌝..

So, maybe you will indeed have to dare to do things a bit differently, particularly as it could, in the long term, be the most convenient approach to a solution for your deemed problem.

The techniques traditionally taught are good for general use, however, for those with smaller hands, etc... Maybe adapting to a personal technique may be best?

 

 

Yes thanks Simon. I think ultimately you are quite right. We all just have to do what works best for us in the end.

I had really wanted to adopt the ideas in Kurt's document because learning to use the same finger for the same note in as many cases as possible has so many advantages in speeding up play and making muscle memory easierwhen learning pieces.

 

It may just be that in my case those "same fingers" will just have to apply to fewer notes. It does also means the top 3rd of the right hand has to be played with only 3 fingers which will be limiting.

 

What I'd really like to know is are there any other Crane players out there who are unable to get their pinky to the highest notes of the outer column (in fact ANY button beyond row 4 in any column), and **have they found that its held them back at more advanced levels?**

 

I'm at very early stages with my Crane so I don't have a lot of time invested in it yet which means it wouldn't be a big deal to change systems early on if I find in out early enough that the particularly "long layout" of the Crane has proved problematic for other "digitally challenged" folks in the past.

Edited April 12 by springer52