 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ken
Date: 2001-11-21 22:47
What if any is the proper/accepted playing position for the Eb Alto Clarinet? When saddled with the instrument as a double in selected concert band pieces, and neck-strapped with no post or peg I've been comfortable playing it between my legs. Should it be played to the side of the body like a tenor saxophone?
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Author: Peter
Date: 2001-11-21 23:48
Ken,
I, of course, don't play professionally, so perhaps how I hold it may not have much bearing, but I have had a difficult time holding the alto clarinet either in front of me or to the side, and I play the saxophone without difficulty.
I have opted for playing it with the bottom curve of the bell resting on anything I find comfortable to rest it on, whether sitting or standing. Between the knees is not comfortable for me.
Somehow it seems to want to twist in my hands (usually to the right) especially while playing above the break. I know it's in the way I hold it, but I can't seem to get it corrected unless I'm actually resting it.
Sooo, I'm also looking forward to the answer from the alto experts.
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Author: jenna
Date: 2001-11-22 03:26
Again.. no professional.. but I've been laying alto for like 3 years now, fairly successfully. I went through the same dilemma when I started, and was told by a bass player that since the clarinet wasn't built the same as something like a sax, it's less beneficial to hold it on the side. Sound quality on an alto leaves something to be desired as is, and from what I understood, holding it at the side "sax-style" would just compound the problem. I don't know how accurate that info was, but I trusted the woman who I had heard was a fantastic clarinet player across the board. She toured all over the country with the Glassboro State (now Rowan Uni.) wind ensemble as a color player (Eb, Eb alto, and bass - at different times). I took her advice and it's seemed to work. I use a really simple neckstrap, and just keep it between my legs. Once you play for awhile you'll get accustomed to the strength you need and whatnot. Sometimes playing over the break stuff can get rough, especially if you don't do it so often. I had a C (first one off the staff.. C6?) that I had to perform a balancing act to hit. Fun stuff, though. =)
Keep up the work on the alto.. it's an awesome instrument to get adept at, because you rarely find people who play/are willing to play it.
I'm done now. =)
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Author: William Hughes
Date: 2001-11-22 04:40
In my alto days (high school, 1963-65) I played it straight up, between the legs, ala alto sax, using a simple neck strap. I thought it very comfortable, good upright head position, good position for the music and the conductor.
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Author: Cindy
Date: 2001-11-22 04:47
This is a bit off topic, but along these lines, is the playing position for english horn similar to the alto clarinet?
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Author: Ken
Date: 2001-11-23 11:46
Thanks folks for the input; I'll continue straddling it between my legs. When holding it that way I find myself tightening-up on the neck strap to more evenly distribute the weight and relieve excess pressure on the thumb. I gather then, it should be thought of as an extension of the Bb and A clarinets and played down but out "in front" sitting erect as possible.
As an auxiliary and color instrument the Alto's holding position appears to be "unofficially undefined". And as with the bass family, I find it peculiar that every "F basset" horn I've ever seen or played is designed and provided with a post and peg. Very unusual considering the basset's appearance, range and sound closely parallels the Alto.
The English horn is held/played in the same fashion as the oboe, Eb, Bb and A clarinets.
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Author: Michael Kincaid
Date: 2001-11-25 14:46
I started playing my alto in a community band about 9 months ago. I was on Bb but the section
had gotten large enough that I thought I could make the switch. At first I thought the band director was just humoring me, but she keeps finding alto parts for me to play so I guess she really likes having an alto clarinet in the band. The parts have been interesting; often I find myself playing along with the trombones or by myself on parts where we have gaps in the band. There are times when I wish I could get a prettier tone out of the alto--it could be me or it might just be the nature of the alto. I am going to experiment with different mouthpieces; I play a Hite mp right now. I play with the alto out in front--I tried playing it on the side but it didn't make any sense that way--I use a neck strap. When I was at the
ClarinetFest in New Orleans, one of the venders was showing a Winston Alto Clarinet--it had no plateau
keys. I tried to play it but it seemed impossible. I still play my Bb clarinet in another community band but I have really learned to enjoy the alto.
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Author: Andrea
Date: 2001-11-26 14:56
I also switched from Bb to Alto to get out of a huge Bb section in community band. It wasn't a particularly smooth transition... here are some lessons learned:
I've suffered the pain of a cheap neckstrap, now using Neo-something... the name escapes me.
I also switched to Legere or Bari synthetic reeds with a Rovner lig. Cane reeds seemed to warp very easily. The squeaks went away when I went synthetic. I can now hit C6 pretty reliably, but not usually the D above it.
I've tried both a plateau keyed, and open keyed horn. The plateau keyed is by far my first choice.
I also was fighting the instability and twisiting problem when holding the horn in center. The open keyed model had two hooks for neck straps... that still wasn't the answer since it didn't control the side to side and twisting movements. I went on a mission to find something (anything) that I could adjust based on my chair height to stabilize the base of the horn. I ended up with a guitar stand, modified slightly. I'm using the fold-up base, with just the neck bracket. I had to cut some off the center post to get it to drop low enough. It's a little challenging getting the height and angle just right at each sitting, since the stand and the bracket are both angled. The neck bracket has rubber tubing over it, so it's pretty steady once I'm set up. The only hazard I've found so far is making sure the very bottom hole will open. If I get the angle wrong, it blocks the movement.
Good Luck and please pass on any other tips you find!
Andrea
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Author: Todd
Date: 2001-11-27 03:55
I found a three foot long piece of steel round stock at the hardware store that fit the peg receiver on my alto clar. After gluing on the smallest crutch tip possible, it made a floor peg that let me play standing up, with no neck strap. All the tension leaves my right thumb.
It's somewhat like dancing with a broom.
A few additional observations/maunderings:
Breath support is super when standing.
Extended low range like a bass would be neat. Extra hardware to deal with!
Alto Clarinetting is definitely a unique pursuit.
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Author: Gene
Date: 2005-01-11 06:48
Get a sax harness strap and add two to three inches of tied eigth-inch nylon rope to hook now you can play all day no fatigue.
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Author: BassClarinetGirl
Date: 2005-01-11 12:10
I play the alto with a peg- it is longer than the one I use on my base, came with the instrument, and obviously meant for use with it. I don't use neck straps if I don't have to, I think I have a weak neck (it hurts after jazz band, using a tenor sax). I play it between my legs, and what is great about a peg compated to resting it on something is that you can adjust it to just the right height (i'm sure you can with a neck strap too). When I play it standing up, it is just the right height to rest on one of the ugly orange plastic chairs in my school's band room.
Also, for whoever said that D6 wasn't reliable, press the little key extention under your left index finger ring, then play the rest of the note, if you are not already doing this. This is on both bass and alto clarinet, to be used on all of the altissimo notes, and I can play the altissimo with it easier and in better tune than I play the upper clarion... sad, isn't it?
Becks
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2005-01-11 14:12
Good advice above , I often [in comm and pit bands] double Bass, usually , alto on occasion when its sound is preferable to trans onto bass. Yes, between legs, double hook neck strap, my Sel-Paris has no peg holder, use a Pomarico 3 mellow mp for best tone/volume response. I like to "pull back" my rt foot so my rt arm is more free from thigh. I generally have it across my lap, hooked up for greater security of horn and mp and exchange position with bass, the latter's peg does require more seating separation from bassoon/bari sax players [a bone of contention !!]. Just my experience/solutions. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: larryb
Date: 2005-01-11 14:21
Ken,
for what it's worth, my LeBlanc Basset Horn does not have a peg - neck strap only. It's an old one (c. 1960), so at some point they must have added a peg. Playing position like the soprano - straight ahead.
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Author: swkeess
Date: 2005-01-11 14:23
I started playing alto clarinet in high school and at that time placed it to my right side like a saxophone, but that was mainly due to the strict dress code (skirts only, no pants). Now I play with the clarinet in between my legs and find it much easier for good intonation in that position. The right thumb does get a lot of pressure, however, and after reading the suggestions in this post I am considering adding a peg for better support.
The best way to get a good sound from your alto clarinet is to invest in a good mouthpiece and ligature and find a reed that plays well for you. It also helps to have a good technician look it over to find possible problems. Once it all comes together, the alto clarinet has a lovely sound and is a great addition to ensembles. Good luck to you!
Susan Keess
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Author: AltoMaverick
Date: 2005-01-11 19:05
Well Ken-
I started playing Alto Clarinet since I was my junior year in high school and it was a whole other world. Trying to understand how to play it, hold it, and how to produce a quality sound was the whole half of it. It took me a good year to understand the qualities of an Alto Clarinet and how it blends in a concert band or in a clarinet choir. Recently, I currently own my Alto Clarinet(which is crazy, but who cares right?) and in my 3rd year at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, for three semesters I was the Alto Clarinet player in the Symphonic Wind Ensemble. I really enjoy pulling out my alto clarinet and playing it every day(even at home!)
Back to your comment... I would say that the alto clarinet I have has a double pinned neckstrap(which holds it, but not secure on the bottom) and you also keep it as vertical as you can cause it affects the tonality and the quality of how you play. I am really glad there are people that love to play alto clarinet.
Calvin
P.S: Alto Clarinet Power=Fantastic!
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2005-01-11 19:31
In my alto days I played it to the side while wearing a neck strap, much like an alto sax. I also, like others, found it did not quite fit to play it between my legs. Besides, that was in the days when girls wore skirts to school and that would have been totally inapproiate.
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Author: mystery science dieter
Date: 2005-01-11 19:37
The proper position to play the alto clarinet is far far away from anyone who isn't deaf.
As an alternative, you can leave the mouthpiece cap on at all times.
Either would be fine for me.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-01-11 19:40
[ For those people who are replying to the person who posted the original question: this thread is from 2001 - GBK ]
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Author: Chris Chaloner
Date: 2005-01-11 19:52
My Bundy has two eyes for the neck strap about 150mm apart. I use a Selmer neck strap with two hooks so the instrument hinges about a point in the air closer to me than the body. I find this MUCH better than using a single-hook sax strap. I agree about keeping the instrument pretty vertical and between the legs. Also, put the music stand up high so that you look almost horizontally at it, and then play without moving your head up and down the page (which makes varifocal glasses impossible!).
Chris
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2005-01-11 20:46
[ For those people who are replying to the person who posted the original question: this thread is from 2001 - GBK ]
Three+ years later, people STILL want to know the correct way to play an instrument hardly anyone (in a position of musical authority) wants to hear played at all.........
Who ever said clarinetists weren't anal-retentive?
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2005-01-11 20:57
TKS, GBK, I and perhaps most of us paid no attention to this"resurrected" [sp?] thread. The new comments do show a greater alto-nerd interest than in 2001 ! Good comment, Chris C, head position for both playing and reading charts is important. As to glasses, I and others have gone to single lens "music glasses" [my focus distance is several feet so as to see both music and conductor fairly well]. If your alto [or bass, basset !] do not balance well using 2 hook straps, a re-locating of one of the rings could help. I have an old Pedler A Cl [has Dbl Reg Keying !] with only one ring, awkward ! I found that I could attach a paper clip to the left [upper] thumb support mech. without interfering with that key's action for a second hook-ring, it Works ! Try diff things ! Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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