 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Dawn
Date: 2000-01-05 01:01
Hi! I have played clarinet for about a semester and now I have switched to a Eb Alto Clarinet. ( Did I mention I am only a beginner.) Well , I find it hard to get notes like a A, G, and a F#. Could someone explain to me what this is.
Thank You!
Dawn
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Author: Melanie
Date: 2000-01-05 01:03
Dawn,
Which A, G, and F# are giving you problems? I've played alto clarinet for a few years now, and I may be able to help. I managed to make some pretty poorly maintained altos sing. What brand and model of alto are you playing?
Melanie
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2000-01-05 02:23
I was about to ask the same questions. Guessing that the notes are below the staff, it sounds like a leak at the Ab/G# pad or the "sliver" key B nat. pad, or both! Do the lower clarion notes sound? , if so I would be surprised! If the notes are at the top of the staff, it sounds like a register vent problem, or a mp/reed mismatch. Will watch for your reply. Don
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Author: Kontragirl
Date: 2000-01-05 04:13
If you are just a beginner (or even just a beginner at the instrument) many things could be wrong.
If it's in the high register, you just need to get used to the instrument. It's harder to play up there on the low horns.
If it's the middle register, you also need to practice a little more, but most likely it's the reed.
If it's in the low register, there is probably a leak. Low notes like to speak.
I've never heard of anyone switching to alto...or even bass so soon. This is from someone who played bass clarinet before soprano (regular) clarinet. Long story. Well, welcome to the low clarinet family! As a friend of mine says when ever the alto clarinet player in my band plays his lowest note..."I LOVE that!"
I would also get the horn checked out anyway. My director gave me a fire wood bass clarinet and said it worked like a charm....well, it would have been fire wood if it was wooden...
Good luck and have fun!
Kontragirl
Also, make sure your bell is on correctly. It may sound stupid, but when ever my instrument is acting up it's the first thing I check, and it's usually the problem.
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Author: Lelia
Date: 2000-01-05 19:43
The Rubank series includes a book especially for alto and bass clarinet. It's worth getting. The exercises are different than the ones for Bb clarinet. Some of the best fingerings on alto clarinet are different than the best fingerings on other clarinets. The fingering chart in that book helped me a lot. I first started alto in seventh grade, after only three years on Bb clarinet. IMHO, it's easier to start doubling *early* than it is to try to switch instruments when you're so used to one that you're "on automatic pilot" with the fingerings and so forth. Learning alto never hurt my Bb playing and made it easier for me to start picking up other instruments later on. I think alto is a beautiful-sounding instrument, too!
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2000-01-05 19:48
TKS, Lelia, I'm not too old to learn something new. Will look for the Rubank. Don
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Author: Dawn
Date: 2000-01-05 20:26
Thanks to all of the people who helped me in this problem!!! I really appreciate your answers and I think I have figured it out.
-Dawn
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