The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Mark P. Jasuta
Date: 2003-07-15 03:13
Hi,
I need some help with my daughter (she is 14). She is having trouble playing G6 and A6 on her clarinet. She can however hit notes on either side right up to C7. Are these notes harder than the rest? Is there something she is doing wrong? Or is there an adjustment that needs to be made? The clarinet is a Buffet C12 with a Pyne "Bn" mouthpiece #4 Gonzalez reeds and a FL ligature. All advice greatfully accepted.
Best Regards
Mark
Post Edited (2003-07-15 03:13)
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Author: Dee
Date: 2003-07-15 23:28
Well my first guess is insufficient air support. Whether one is playing loud or soft, higher notes need high pressure air. My second guess would be a "flabby" embouchure. The high notes need a firm embouchure but one must avoid pinching the reed. Even more likely is a combination of the two.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-07-16 00:12
Dee makes 2 good suggestions. The notes must be voiced correctly.
Is your daughter using the correct fingerings?
There are numerous ways to play G6 and A6. Have you experimented with any of the alternate fingerings choices? ...GBK
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Author: Mark P. Jasuta
Date: 2003-07-16 02:48
I'll have her try what you suggested and see what happens. As far as alternate fingerings, she tried them with no success. The fingerings she uses are off the Buffet website. Which fingerings are easyest?
Thanks
Mark
Post Edited (2003-07-16 02:54)
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Author: Burt
Date: 2003-07-16 12:48
Mark, for ease of playing, I think the best fingering for G6 is:
left index finger, 3 fingers on right hand, right pinky on low Ab key.
For A6, they all seem to be equally hard. Overblow E6; if that's too sharp, use the right (or left) pinky Gb key and the right ring finger, rather than the Ab key.
Rolling the lower lip out may help, but eventually she will need to play all notes using the same embochure.
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Author: krawfish3x
Date: 2003-07-16 12:57
a firm embouchure is definately needed to get these notes out. i remember when i first needed to use G6 in a piece and i had trouble getting it out. the "easiest" fingering ive found is - 2 -|12-G# this mean use the middle finger on the left hand and index and middle on the right with the G# key. (each number corresponds to a finger) tell her to play an F, then F#, then add the index finger and middle finger on the right hand, see what happens, a G should pop out.
as for A6, i just overblow E6. once she can play the G, A is no problem.
I have problems with the F# more than anything, it sounds weak like its going to break. any advice for this problem?
Post Edited (2003-07-16 13:00)
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Author: Mark P. Jasuta
Date: 2003-07-17 02:29
Hi,
I would like to thank everyone for their helpful suggestions. It turned out to be that my daughter’s embouchure wasn't firm enough. I had her tighten it up (without biting) and the notes popped out. She will be practicing every day to help her gain full control over them. Her air support has always been very good (One day she's going to blow the bell off.). She is athletic and participates in cross country running and lacrosse, as a result, she has a strong set of lungs. Again, Thank You.
Best regards
Mark
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