 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Black Hobbit
Date: 2003-12-27 16:54
Hi, I resently purchased an Alto Clarinet. I'm enjoying it so far but was wondering if anyone with experience with the instument had any tips that might aid me (as well as others) in my playing. I'm migrating to the alto from the standard Bb Clarinet. What are some of the differences in figuring and such?
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Author: ron b
Date: 2003-12-27 20:26
I also enjoy playing the alto clarinet, Black Hobbit; a Bundy (Boehm system, of course). It fingers the same as the others and, with the right mouthpiece/reed combination, I find it plays just about as easily as Bb horns with maybe a little more air support needed for the upper register. You have to keep them well adjusted as they're less forgiving about leaks etc. than the (Bb) soprano. I like a slightly softer reed with my instrument but you really need to decide about that for yourself. I love the sound of the alto and if you get into sight transposing, or playing by ear, you'll increase the fun factor many times over.
- r![[cool]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/cool.gif) n b -
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Author: Michael Kincaid
Date: 2003-12-27 21:43
Black Hobbit,
Alto clarinet has a beautiful tone; I especially love the low notes. The markings on my mouthpiece are worn but I believe it's a Vandoran B40.
I use a regular metal ligature with a # 2 Rico reed. I have tried
to increase reed strength at times as an adventure but it
makes the mid-range of the instrument stuffy.
I have noticed that having plateau keys to rely on can make
my finger positions sloppy, so I try to keep watch over that
so I can move back to my soprano without difficulty.
Good luck!
Michael
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Author: Black Hobbit
Date: 2003-12-28 13:21
Thanks guys! Keep up the good work. What is ment about "less forgiving about leaks". Could someone elaborate on that. Also, what then is the best method for playing by ear? Thanks everyone. I'm just starting to be able to hit the high notes.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2003-12-28 22:21
Bb soprano clarinets will still play with serious pad leaks (forgiving); from bent key cups, holes in pads, tone hole chips or other causes. You may have to mash down on keys and/or blow harder than usual, but they'll play.
Altos and the larger (bass and contras) clarinet family are way more fussy. Tiny leaks, even a very tiny one, can quickly disable them so they won't play at all (unforgiving).
Playing by ear in the sense I meant above means you pick out a tune you like and play it without looking at written sheet music.
- ron b -
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-12-28 22:41
Ron [as usual] says it well. Yes, frequent sqeeking on a bass cl, or just not playing on the alto are leak indicators. I have found on my Selmer-Paris alto that a fairly wide tip, medium lay, mp with a soft [2 +] reed gives me easy playing response and good tone quality. As with the "larger reed insts", the need for double register keying to achieve good response for mid staff B, C, D and a good strong clarion, becomes more acute, I tried several altos before finding one I liked. I wouldn't be too concerned with the altissimo, the main use of the AC is in concert band, and those higher parts are the playground of the Bb's 1,2,3. Have fun, practice, it IS a different clarinet! Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: happyamateur
Date: 2003-12-28 23:08
You might want to consider trying the Hite alto mp - It really made a difference for my instrument (a Ripamonte, much nicer that you might think). This mp works really well with an alto sax reed and this allows for a greater selection of reed choice.
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2003-12-29 04:53
One thing to note about the fingerings on low clarinets. You may find you need to use different fingerings in the altissimo range than you are used to. (Fortunately, on most parts written for alto, you won't have to venture into that range often.) If you have a decent instrument with plateau keys, you may notice a small hole in the left index finger key and a "tab" on the bottom of the key. This is for use in altissimo fingering and acts as a sort of second register key.
In altissimo, usually you will finger C# the same as you would on your soprano clarinet:
TR oxx xxo
For D and above, however, you use the tab to close the key so that the small hole is uncovered, similar to "half-holing" on a soprano clarinet. (Make sure the small hole isn't clogged, BTW), e.g., for D:
TR @xx xoo Eb
You will probably also find that the normal altissimo fingerings don't always work as well on the alto as some alternate fingerings (and some alternates won't work at all) so you should experiment with a fingering chart (or, perhaps, a bass clarinet fingering chart) to find the fingerings that work best on your instrument.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: beejay
Date: 2003-12-29 09:54
I assume that the half hole top key for the altissimo range on my basset horn is the same as on alto. In addition to using that key, does one also have to press the Gsharp/Dsharp key as on a soprano clarinet? I do tend to finger that key out of habit, but notice no difference in sound. Perhaps some difference might be noticeable to the listener?
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2003-12-29 18:27
The function of half-holing in general was, IMO, very well explained by Michael Webster in the June 2003 issue of "The Clarinet." If you have or can get access to that issue, I highly recommend his article.
I have never played a basset horn ![[frown]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie2.gif) and don't play the alto very often (despite owning one for several years, I actually used it in a public performance for the first time last weekend) so I'm not a very good person to answer your question. (If I hadn't started this, I wouldn't be posting.) The low clarinet fingering charts I have seen call for the G#/D# with the primary altissimo fingerings and I have generally found it necessary on bass clarinet, if that's any help. I suppose you could have someone listen to you and tell you if they hear a difference.
Others out there? Help?
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-12-30 02:42
You'll need to push matches much further into the bore to kindle an alto than an accordion...but the accordion is easier to stoke without singe-ing.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2003-12-30 02:57
Did you have a bad encounter with one or the other or both, or... what happened, Synon?
The alto has so far been pretty player-friendly to me.
No harm in just plain not liking something though, I guess :|
- ron b -
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