 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: CarlT
Date: 2012-03-23 01:03
I have really worked at trying to get high D (D6) to sound less harsh. Invariably it does sound relatively harsh compared to the higher clarion notes. I can get a reasonably good sound by just practicing it alone, but not so good when going from clarion to altissimo.
I'd appreciate advice from some of you non-double lippers (I don't even won't to think about trying double lip in the altissimo register).
CarlT
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2012-03-23 03:55
Have you tried halfholing it? When you pop up to it, don't lift the LH index finger, slide it partially off the hole leaving a "leak". This helps mellow it out and make for very smooth transitions. I slide the finger off when going into altissimo from any clarion note rather than lift the finger off. Really helps.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2012-03-23 07:26
Carl, what horn, reeds, and mouthpiece are you using? Maybe we can help with a bit more info.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2012-03-23 12:53
If D sounds OK by itself but not in a passage leading up to it, one thing to consider is that you're changing something in your embouchure, amount of air or voicing that causes the change in quality when you cross the break from clarion to altissimo. In my experience with students, the most common problem with altissimo production is too slack an embouchure, often combined with too little air. Going over the break can exaggerate any destructive changes because the harmonic level feels different and because of the physical instability of the clarinet as you go through the upper clarion with little support available from your hands.
If you are able to produce a controlled, good sounding D6 on its own, then you could try starting with that and slurring *downward* to C. Make sure there's no change in intensity. Do that enough times to be sure of the sensations involved. Then do the same thing, but slur back up to D: D-C-D. Play this slowly enough to produce a sustained sound and avoid bouncing the instrument around as you move your fingers. Again, make sure nothing is changing from the first D through the next two notes of the exercise. When that goes well, try either increasing the interval (D-B-D) or adding notes (D-C-B-A-B-C-D) or any combination of both variants. If the problem is crossing between clarion and altissimo, this should zero you in on what you need to do (or, more likely, *not* do) during the crossing.
Karl
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Author: John Peacock
Date: 2012-03-23 14:25
Are you playing the D with the RH little finger on the Ab/Eb key? This is commonly recommended in fingering charts, and is certainly what you do with the notes above D. But having this RH key pressed does two things: it makes the note sharper, and it also makes in noticeably more strident. Now for the good news: on many instruments, it makes the note *too* sharp, and you are better in tune without it. If this is the case for you (check against an electronic tuner or a well-tuned piano), then your standard approach should be to play D without it, and the quality of the sound will be much nicer.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2012-03-23 16:33
Play chalumeau Bb3, mezzo piano and with a warm, clear but slightly covered tone.
Then move your left thumb very slowly onto the register key and pop up to clarion F5. (You could even close your eyes and have someone else reach behind and open the register key.) You shouldn't know exactly when you will jump up, and you don't change your embouchure or air. Work on carrying the Bb3 quality up into the F5 sound.
Then continue by very slowly rolling your left index finger down until you jump up to altissimo D6. Once again, maintain the embouchure and air and keep the warmth and cover in the sound.
You wouldn't want this quality all the time, but it's important to be able to make many good tones.
You should do the same exercise on A/E/C#, [forked] B/F#/Eb, C/G/E, C#/G#/F, D/A/F# and Eb/Bb/G. For the time being, don't worry about the flat F#5 and G6. This exercise is about binding the intervals and tone color matching. (Of course you'll do other things to correct the intonation later.)
Ken Shaw
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Author: CarlT
Date: 2012-03-23 18:18
I just looked at all the responses. I will try all, and I'll give each its fair chance. For that matter, each will likely help.
Bob B: Setup is R13, #3 Legere Signature reed (also happens with cane), Rovner lig, Grabner K14 (happens also with all my old Vandies though).
Thanks a lot fellows.
CarlT
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