‘In-line’

Often called ‘French style’ as this is the most commonly played specification in France.  This type of specification is when all the main action key work on the body, especially the G keys, is attached to one rod and hence all the keys are in a straight line.  It has been traditional for most professional players to use this specification since the last century.  The mechanism has one inherent fault in a tendency for the B flat key to bind when fingering between third octave F and F#.  This is particularly the case where the player has a 'heavy touch' and actually distorts the rods slightly as he/she plays.  This can be eliminated where a 'Pinless' mechanism is used.