 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: rgoldem
Date: 2006-05-05 18:54
I find the altissimo notes hard to tune. I can reach them quite easily but they are not very well in tune (sometimes 30 cents out of target). Is this acceptable? Does it happen with many players or it is just me and/or my instrument? Thanks
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Author: GBK
Date: 2006-05-05 19:15
rgoldem wrote:
> Is this acceptable?
No...
Are you biting excessively hard?
How is the tuning with the rest of your instrument?
Are all the left hand notes sharp or only the altissimo register?
The venting of the keys may need to be checked and adjusted.
As a temporary measure, there are MANY alternate fingerings for the notes in the altissimo register. Some are better than others, but there should be a few that will play closer to the correct pitch ...GBK
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Author: Gandalfe
Date: 2006-05-06 00:31
And to be brutally frank, not all instruments are created equal. My wife suffered for three months using a Vito eefer. She actually got pretty good at adjusting the pitch as necessary up and down the scale. I bought her a Leblanc Concerto II this year and she has absolutely no problem keeping that instrument in tune. Now if we could do something about that piccolo next to her in band. :o)
Jim and Suzy
Pacifica Big Band
Seattle, Washington
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Author: FredR
Date: 2006-05-06 00:32
Definitely no.
I had a teacher that said just because you can hit it, doesn't mean you can play it. Unfortunately a vast number of us do just that without concern for sound quality or pitch.
Once you rule out the mechanics GBK listed, it just takes work (with a tuner) Play around with alternates, half hole the L index, try different venting keys and adjust your embouchure.
Ken Shaw had posted a great exersize http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=32770&t=32692
one other thing if you have a dog or a "significant other" you might want to work on this range in a closet.
FredR
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Author: Avie
Date: 2006-05-07 23:04
Thanks to all for the good advise on the altissimo notes. Im thinking of reading Keith Steins "The Art of Clarinet Playing" for a third time. Ken's great exercise reminded me of it and what a great reference book it is.
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