Some hornplayers have asked recently about pinky hooks, hand straps and my recommendation. Normally, I stay out of these kinds of endorsements, but in this case I have a very passionate opinion.

At issue are methods of holding the horn up with the left hand. There are 4 methods of doing this. (5 if you count Pip Eastop’s Pip Stick, which is a brilliant contraption but does not involve the left hand directly.)

  1. Pinky hook
  2. Pinky hook and velcro loop strap
  3. Flipper
  4. Strap soldered to the horn (removing pinky hook)

A soldered strap is the easiest and most ergonomical way to hold the horn!

Read a scientific explaination of how flexor muscles in the middle, ring, and pinky fingers work. Basically, the last three fingers of your hand share a flexor muscle. If you restrict the movement of the pinky finger by putting it under a hook and using it to support all 5+ pounds of horn, you also restrict the motion of the ring and middle fingers as well.

A soldered strap allows the middle and ring fingers to work the valves at a faster speed!

Using a strap soldered to the horn and removing the pinky hook allows the last three fingers to move together with more freedom. Imagine playing Weber’s Concertino, with all of its speedy T2- T12- T23 fingering combinations. Having the ring finger move even 5% quicker can make a huge difference in playing that piece!

A good strap needs to (in my opinion):

  • Be fully leather instead of leather/ nylon so that sweat and moisture will not pentrate the surface, mildew, and stink.
  • Be adjustable so that you have options about where to solder.
  • Have a FULL WRAP-AROUND handguard that protects the horn and does not twist as your hand position changes.
  • Be made of high quality leather that will not stretch over time.

I’ve had many different kinds of straps on my horns over the years and the Clebsch strap is the best strap I’ve found. It is made with very high quality leather that will not rip or streach (I’ve moved my current strap to 3 different horns and its still going strong).

I passionately believe that a soldered stap is the best way to hold the horn with the left hand. It gives unparalleled advantages in fingering speed and overall comfort. The Clebsch strap is the best strap I’ve used and I’m happy to offer this option on all of my horns at no extra cost!