 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Sue
Date: 2003-04-01 23:32
I joined my community band afew months ago and now we are working on a piece where I can't play past high D. The Band Director happens to be a Clarinet player. My question is I don't know if this is something that needs time to figure out (teacher needs to watch me play over a period of time) or he might be able to help me. I've tried various solutions on my own already and I'm stumped !.
Thanks for any help,
Sue
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Author: diz
Date: 2003-04-01 23:50
Sue - there can be a tendency to bite down to hard whilst playing in this high register - it hinders airflow in my experience and makes matters worse (in my experience). Try relaxing and also trying "thinking" about the note before you play it - that is, pitch it in your mind's ear.
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Author: funkymunky
Date: 2003-04-02 00:24
It was hard for me to hit the highest notes until i got stronger reeds. I played with 2 1/2 and 2 but after i got some 3 1/2 it seemed to make the highs really sing. I bought a few 3 1/2 one from every brand to see which is best. Make sure to hold them up to the light to make sure they are good . Most reeds are not made evenly right out of the box.
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Author: Pam H.
Date: 2003-04-02 00:37
Slightly harder reeds (and maybe even a more closed mouthpiece) seem to work better for me if I go to the upper range notes very much in any particular piece of music. You don't want to bite harder. Try not to tense up.
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Author: hans
Date: 2003-04-02 01:44
You could try playing up the scale in one breath to see if that will take you where you need to go. That might give a clue to the problem; e.g., if the clarinet stops playing at the same point every time you do this, there may be a problem with the instrument.
Hans
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Author: Sue
Date: 2003-04-02 02:29
Thanks to everyone !
I forgot to mention I have a Vandoren B45 Lyre (my main MP) and a B45 plus a Selmer HS*(which I don't care for). I've tried the same reed 3 Vandoren on all three but haven't tried a 3 1/2 as I don't normally use it. I'll also try different brands what would you recommend?.
Sue
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Author: clarinetwife
Date: 2003-04-02 04:10
I think that a good sounding altissimo note is built on the lower notes that have a related fingering. You might try sets of three long tones--one low register, one clarion, and then the altissimo, starting with the notes you can already play. For example, low A to clarion E to altissimo C#. Then low Bb to clarion F to Altissimo D. This will help you figure out the lip and air requirements for each altissimo note as you go up.
I also have my students build a chromatic scale from high C, Starting with a simple C-C#-D-C#-C, 3 notes ascending and descending. Again, as you extend your range you can extend your chromatic scale.
Hope this helps!
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Author: Tom A
Date: 2003-04-02 10:59
This is specific, and may seem technical, and I don't mind correction from others. But it works for me and my kids.
*It may help to have SLIGHTLY more mouthpiece in your mouth. (You may be doing this now, but some people used to lower notes often have just the tip in the mouth, so try it. But I mean SLIGHTLY!)
*Ensure your lower lip is not too far back over lower teeth.
*As you play, push the instrument upwards into your top teeth a little, without actually changing the angle of your head. (Not "upward and forwards", as though pushing your teeth out of your mouth. Directly upwards.) I think this has the effect of reducing the need for the lower teeth to bite.
*FIRM your lips (not "bite") a little more as though blowing your D.
*Push with WARM air, which also has the effect of maintaining an "open" mouth, hence no biting on the reed.
It may also help to experiment with slight variations in the angle of your clarinet from your body.
Hope this helps. I know my students find it rewarding to get a clean attack on their high notes. As "diz" and "Pam" said, it boils down to not hindering the air flow by clamping the reed. The high stuff needs air support, so keep letting that wind in!
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Author: LBViola04
Date: 2003-04-02 11:43
Vandoren Black Masters are a little bit harder to play on and help high notes come out much better. Also, if you think about pointing your air up, that I might help. Another way to get the higher notes to come out is to tighten the corners of your mouth, not bite down, and think about raising the back of your tounge(kind of like when you yawn). All of these are techniques that will help higher notes come out clean and strong. Also, are you using the right hand Eb key(Eb on staff) when you play those high notes? And have you tried left hand first finger, half-holeing the key?
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Author: Bennett ★2017
Date: 2003-04-02 15:35
And blow HARD. You'll never get the notes out playing softly.
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Author: Eileen
Date: 2003-04-02 16:24
Try getting more air pressure by tightening up your diaphragm - not by biting down at the mouthpiece. Don't be shy. Push that note out. I think a lot of it is psychological. If you're afraid, you tense up and the note dies. I try to think postively - Hey, everyone, isn't this high note cool! - instead of - oh my god I hope no one notices me.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-04-03 04:55
A good exercise I used to do and probably should do every now and then as a refresher is to practice overtones. Start with a low a. Then see if, with a slight movement of the lower lip and jaw, you can get the "overtone" E to sound. Making your lip the register key. Then from there, see if you can get the overtone C# to sound. Then move up the scale like that. You may want to start with the register key already popped open and start with an E and get the C# to sound. This helps to show how much control you can have with your embouchre. And once you get in the habit of that slight movement (just a very slight "rolling" your tongue on the reed one way or the other) those higher notes will come out whenever you want.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-04-03 10:51
To reiterate some of the salient points mentioned above...
It's a WIND instrument - it's about controlling air, not jaw pressure.
The tip of the reed generates most power for these higher notes - concentrate your air flow in a narrower opening (like blowing up a balloon through a drinking straw)...
You must be SET when preparing for the note - a 'belly full' of air at the ready... if you run out of gas, the note will fail.
**********
So far as equipment goes, if you have a good reed, in stable condition, nothing in your rig should really stop you from reaching the higher range.
There's alot of slag about the B45, and it should serve you just fine.
Me, I would approach my band director about adjusting reeds for optimal response - that's inexpensive and often effective.
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Author: Sue
Date: 2003-04-03 17:54
Such good suggestions!, I really like this BB.
Ive tried various suggestions with a 3 Vandoren V12 (can't quite handle a Traditional 3 1/2) and my B45 MP (which I think I'll use from now on) and I can now reach high F (alittle shaky but I can do it!). I just need to keep working on it and stiving for better breath control/support.
Thanks everyone!,
Sue
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