 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Sax player
Date: 2001-09-11 07:28
Yes, mental, too. But physical mostly.
I'm a tenor player looking to learn clarinet. Yes, that's backwards, but I wasn't informed when I started that starting on clarinet would save me a ton of time in the future. Thanks mom. Anyways.
Any suggestions embouchure wise? I can get around the fingerings pretty well (the break isn't too big of a problem) but my low notes sound airy and crappy and the upper end is whiny.
Thanks!
-Rick, Detroit
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-09-11 14:41
Sax has a bunched (from the sides), fat (from to back) lower lip cushion which is largely in front of the teeth. the clarinet lip cushion is much thinner and above the teeth (for most players) I suspect that the basic reason is that a clarinet needs a thinner (from front to back) lip cushion to give less damping action on the reed.
Basic clarinet instruction: Pull the lower lip thinly - using smile muscles to help) over the lower teeth, rest the mouthpiece on the lip, close the jaw sufficiently to rest the upper teeth on the mouthpiece, and finally pull the lips in against the sides of the mouthpiece in the manner ofd a tightening rubber band.
Well that's how I do it, but I am no expert.
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Author: Casey
Date: 2001-09-11 18:51
Yes- that is a big switch! Try your reed size and practice with some beginner method books..they always have something to help you with your ambachure (i know i didnt spell that right oh well!) You just need to practice,practice,practice! And it always helps to straighten your chin muscles while you play and tighten the corners of your lips! HAVE FUN!
~Casey~
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Author: Suzanne
Date: 2001-09-11 21:04
I started on clarinet and then learned tenor, and the embouchure is a lot more relaxed for sax. Not to say exactly that you should "tighten"--just make sure that your embouchure is very steady. A teacher told me that clarinet embouchure is like a solid metal ring on the outside with an inner tube inside, if you can imagine that--secure, yet very gentle to the reed. Very little effort (compared to tenor) is needed for the lowest notes on clarinet. Focus the air stream--think of blowing the air in a concentrated stream toward the roof of your mouth, and imagine it bounce back down through the mouthpiece/reed opening. The angle of the mouthpiece in your mouth should be different for clarinet--a sax mouthpiece comes in more perpendicular than clarinet. In other words, if you put in the clarinet mouthpiece at the same angle as the sax mouthpiece, you would be holding the clarinet out a lot more. Make sure it comes in at an angle. Experiment with bringing the instrument closer and farther away from you until you get the best sound.
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Author: David Pegel
Date: 2001-09-14 00:03
The way I heard was that you try as hard as you can to force a "eeee" sound through your mouth as you blow into it (not actually say it, but shape your mouth to form the same.)
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Author: Anji
Date: 2001-09-14 01:48
As a 'plonker' struggling with the Bari sax as well as the clarinet, I would like to recommend the study series penned by Larry Guy.
(He's a pro-player in NYC, and I had the great pleasure of hearing him in a chamber setting this summer, here, in the Adirondacks. He really does know what he teaches, and the guides are a distillation of years training.)
Long and short...
It's all about the reed.
Supporting the reed comfortably with a quality mouthpiece is more than half the battle. I recommend your local repair shop and their 'gently used' collection of older mouthpieces.
It makes some sense to emulate the primary mouthpiece you play, be it Alto or Tenor... look for a similar curve and tip opening on the clarinet.
(What DO you play, mpc and reed, onna sax?)
Try playing as you face a corner, and listen for the 'sound in your head' .
anji
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Author: Sax player
Date: 2001-09-16 07:05
Heya everyone, thanks for the great info. Once my family wakes up (it's 3 a.m.) I'm going to try some things.
In response to your question Anji, I play a high-baffle Quantum 8 metal on a The Martin tenor (176xxx).
Any ideas how to switch over? I have incredible difficulty playing low-baffle large-chamber mouthpieces on tenor--my sound leans towards the high baffle. I play 2 1/2 Alexander Superial D.C.'s, yet my sound isn't overly bright. Go fig'.
My 'net setup is a Series 9 and a B45 mpc. I'm playing 3 - 3 1/2 Mitchell Luries.
Thanks!
-Rick
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