 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: potatohead
Date: 2004-03-23 21:32
I did a search for this, but I never really found what I was looking for. For an audition I need to play the Eb soprano clarinet and I have to play a 3 8va chromatic starting on low E. The problem is, when I get above C# (right above thumb and 8va key C) All the notes sound exactly the same. When I tried to use a tuner, the needle didn't move. Do any of you know of any fingerings that may help?
-MG
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Author: Tom Piercy
Date: 2004-03-23 23:46
Eb clarinets are notoriously flat in the altissimo – however, I am surprised that you/the instrument is that flat as to produce the same pitch from C and on up to Altissimo E.
Some suggestions:
make sure the instrument is in good working order, of course
then --
try a harder reed;
try a firmer embouchure;
try faster air stream;
try a better mouthpiece (there are some very good models made by sponsors of the BB that address the intonation problems in the altissimo).
Tom Piercy
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Author: potatohead
Date: 2004-03-24 01:15
Thank you--
Let's see, right now I'm using a Bundy Resonite (which I've read on this BB that it has pretty good intonation, considering it being a plastic instrument, I think. Maybe I read that wrong...) I'm using a Hite mouthpiece with 3.5 VDs. I'll try to firm up my embouchure and use a faster air stream-- I think that may help.
I have a sort of similar problem on my Bb clarinet too. When I try to play F# (above thumb+8va key-- I'm sorry I don't have the more correct way of saying what I mean) it goes very flat to the point that the tuner registers it as a very sharp F. When I try to use more air, it just drops down to... an unidentifiable note. I have a very good technician working on both of my instruments and looking them over, so I think it's me. Any other ideas than to tighten up? Should the corners of my mouth be squeezed in more?
-MG
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2004-03-24 17:14
Hard to say without hearing/seeing you in person.
Do you have a private teacher?
Katrina
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Author: potatohead
Date: 2004-03-24 21:30
Yes, I have a teacher. He's helping me a lot and he promises to help me out on Eb.
-MG
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2004-03-25 00:58
Great...My general suspiscion (sp?) is that it's an "embouchure thing" or perhaps an "air support thing".
I didn't want to try to write a treatise on playing altissimo or anything...It is interesting that the same thing happens on Bb...and that leads me to the above conclusion.
A couple of ideas though...
1. Try to use faster air. Not necessarily more, but faster. Think "eeeeee."
2. Push out with your lower abdominal muscles. This adds the necessary support to the air stream.
FWIW, I'm not really an Eefer player. I just teach Soprano, but these suggestions seem to work with my students who have issues up there.
Katrina
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Author: potatohead
Date: 2004-03-25 01:24
Thank you. I really think that's it so I'll try it. Push air... yeah, I've been told that so I guess I'll really need it. ;-)
-MG
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Author: Wayne Thompson
Date: 2004-03-25 02:12
You've got a major problem, particularly on the eefer, and you've gotten some good advice here. However that F# (F#6), fingered thumb, register, and middle left finger ( and the D# key, of course), is notorously flat. On this very bulletin board I asked for advice and was told it's the worst note for intonation on the clarinet. If that were the only problem, try other fingerings. Try the high Bb, two left fingers and side key (one ledger line above the staff, called Bb5) lipped to the next partial; it may be better.
WT
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Author: Jeroen
Date: 2004-03-26 07:49
The Bundy Resonite has indeed reasonable intonation....
meaning: it is not worse than most other Eb instruments.
Consider:
-The altissimo is flat (as most other Eb horns)
-The Bundy is large bore so your embouchure has more effect on pitch than on a "small bore" instrument. This looks like a good thing but in most cases it makes things worse.
With a good mpc it is possible to play the Bundy in tune. However I still can't play the high notes in the altissimo louder than mf without lowering pitch.
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