 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: classifan
Date: 2003-02-09 05:03
I can play up to the note C7 on my Bb clarinet, but can't go any higher. I play it very well in tune, but the sound is very screechy and piercing so I rarely practice this note much cause it hurts my ears. Any note that is higher than this is almost impossible for me to play, so I need some tips. Also, does anyone know what partial the C7 is?
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Author: ron b
Date: 2003-02-09 06:48
In my experience, Classifan, far too many players just don't do very high notes justice. There's a lot more to it than getting the fingerings right. I never go up there except in semi-seclusion just to show someone it's possible. To make it tolerable I use LOTS of AIR support and play as SOFTLY as I can manage. The higher you go, the softer you need to play to avoid the[detestable, in my opinion] screechies... .
Don't get me wrong, those very high note can sound nice, even pretty, when played well. When they're bad though, they're Realllly bad.
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Author: classifan
Date: 2003-02-09 09:31
C7 for Bb clarinet = 3729 Hz frequency in 440A pitch, which is Bb
Hard to get this to sound "good"
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Author: Thomas Piercy
Date: 2003-02-09 12:22
Things that will help in getting C7 and notes in that area to sound good:
practice (of course);
correct air speed; it doesn't have to be too loud;
a mouthpiece that allows for those notes to easily sound and sound good;
a reed that will allow the notes to sound (it doesn't always have to be the hardest reed either);
embouchure support with correct air (not biting the note out);
good fingerings.
I play a lot of music with notes up there and have experimented with different reed, mouthpiece and fingering combinations to make it work well. I find that having the right reed and mouthpiece combination much more important that the biting that many people use to get those notes out.
Ned Rorem is writing me a clarinet and piano piece to be premiered this fall. He wanted to know if I could start the piece on a "Double high C" - C7. I said that is kind of "------," but let's see. I had just walked in and so I took out both horns -- a Rossi large bore with B&H mouthpiece and a Buffet R13 Prestige with Opperman mouthpiece. I blew some air into the horns and then fingered the note and played. It worked easily on both horns. He loved the sounds, very different, on both horns. I'll find out soon if that is how the piece will start.
Again, practice and experiment to find what works for you.
Tom Piercy
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Author: Ken
Date: 2003-02-09 14:20
Harder cane, firm breath support and don't cheat by biting can achieve a richer/fuller sound in the altissimo. However, the most effective/beneficial method is just "playing" up there and incorporate it into the daily warm-up routine for "short periods" i.e. extended scale work into the 3rd octave, chromatic scales throughout the entire range, arpeggios/diverse broken chords in all 12 keys, compulsory exercises in Baermann I-III up an octave where practical, tongue/trill, etc (I'd stay away from the long tones). If one wants to explore higher than the 6 space C, Tom Ridenour's book has experimental fingerings to triple Eb. Although, on a soprano Bb and a purely musical standpoint, I don't understand why anyone would "routinely" play that far up in the trees (or compose/arrange for that matter) ... I thought that's what eefers, flutes and piccs were invented for; to cover that color and extreme range? v/r Ken
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Author: William
Date: 2003-02-09 16:25
When the bats start answering back, its probably good enough.
Seriously, just "in tune", good cane, a responsive mpc and good breath support honed by lots of practice. Good luck!!!!
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Author: Bazzer the Jazzer
Date: 2003-02-09 23:02
One of my pupils had a real problem on high notes, they where weak and screechy, I listened to her and told her the way I did it, do not play so harshly and use a little vibrato, this cured her problem right away, I play jazz so vibrato is normal, I am not sure if vibrato is allowed in the world of the classics, if it is no matter how slight it may work. Also I support the air column from the diaphragm.
Barrie
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Author: classifan
Date: 2003-02-10 01:55
Oops, C7 played on a Bb clarinet should equal to 1865 Hz.
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Author: clarinetgiggirl
Date: 2003-02-10 08:06
As Bazzer the Jazzer said, a little vibrato (and quite a lot of practice) works wonders. I have a particular blues tune that I love to play, but people used to flinch and glasses break....but the problem was cured in a day or two. If only everything else was as easy!
I think that this also illustrates the importance of a good teacher - it can be difficult to work things out on your own, but occassionaly a teacher can sort things out really quickly.
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