 The Fingering Forum
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Author: Laura
Date: 2000-09-04 22:42
Hello everyone. Time to test your knowledge of the clarinet family! I have decided, for the upcoming school year, to play play the contra-alto clarinet. I am able to make noises out of it. I was just wondering if anyone had any sugestions on fingering, beginner's reed strenghts, and any other helpful hints. I have played the Bb clarinet for 5 years and needed a change. Also, is it an Eb instrument? You can e-mail me or post a reply here. Thanx a bunch!!
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Author: Eoin McAuley
Date: 2000-09-05 07:50
The contra-alto clarinet is an E flat instrument, the same as an Alto. It is pitched an octave below the alto. The fingering on it is almost exactly the same as standard Bb clarinet. When you play what you call middle C on the clarinet, you get the Bb below middle C, which is often numbered as Bb3. When you play the same fingering on a an Alto, you get the Eb below this, Eb3. On the Contra-Alto, you get the Eb an octave below this again, Eb2.
I don't know any specifics about fingering the contra-alto, but for big clarinets in general, there is usually a hole in the key for L1, the index finger of the left hand. You uncover this hole instead of lifting the finger when playing altissimo notes (the ones above the C two ledger lines above the stave.
The WFG here lists some special fingerings for low clarinets. I suggest you try them.
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Author: Laura
Date: 2000-09-06 00:40
"When you play what you call middle C on the clarinet, you get the Bb below middle C, which is often numbered as Bb3." So does that mean that I read music the same as I would on a calrient or do I have to change how I read the music?
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Author: Wes
Date: 2002-10-09 22:27
This means you have to modify all of your music if you want to play it right on a piano or something.
Clarinet Piano
nothing 2 flats
1 sharp 1 flat
2 sharps nothing
3 sharps 1 sharp
4 sharps 2 sharps
5 sharps 3 sharps
6 sharps 4 sharps
7 sharps 5 sharps
1 flat 3 flats
2 flats 4 flats
3 flats 5 flats
4 flats 6 flats
5 flats 7 flats
6 flats 6 sharps
7 flats 7 sharps
and when converting, put the note 1 note lower for the piano.
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Author: Steve
Date: 2002-11-01 02:38
Contra-alto clarinet bigger bass clarinet
Eoin McAuley wrote:
-------------------------------
The contra-alto clarinet is an E flat instrument, the same as an Alto. It is pitched an octave below the alto. The fingering on it is almost exactly the same as standard Bb clarinet. When you play what you call middle C on the clarinet, you get the Bb below middle C, which is often numbered as Bb3. When you play the same fingering on a an Alto, you get the Eb below this, Eb3. On the Contra-Alto, you get the Eb an octave below this again, Eb2.<br />
<br />
I don't know any specifics about fingering the contra-alto, but for big clarinets in general, there is usually a hole in the key for L1, the index finger of the left hand. You uncover this hole instead of lifting the finger when playing altissimo notes (the ones above the C two ledger lines above the stave.<br />
<br />
The WFG here lists some special fingerings for low clarinets. I suggest you try them.
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