The Thumb C# Key
The thumb c-sharp key is located on the wing joint, immediately above the whisper key.
Thumb C# is Not a Speaker Key
The speaker keys only address the response of notes, not the actual pitch of the notes. With upper C# you have to press the thumb C# key for the duration of the note. If you don’t press the thumb C# key or if you only flick it at the beginning of the note, the pitch will change to something other than upper C#.
Fingerings for Upper C#
There are three standard fingerings for the third octave C#/Db; each has a different sound, feel, and intonation. Try all three fingerings and see which works best on your instrument. Be sure to consider response and intonation first, followed by tone quality and blend with the surrounding pitches. Fluency with all three options will allow you to choose the best one for each musical situation.
Matching Pitch
Play the Matching Pitch exercise using each of the three fingerings to see which is the most accurate for you.
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