 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: bp (F)
Date: 2004-04-09 18:16
I'd like to know if the Eb clarinet is difficult to learn when you are quite well experienced with the Bb/A.
What are the well-known everyone's difficulties with that small clarinet?
By the way, in France, we call it "la petite clarinet". How do you tell?
Thanks
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Author: bp (F)
Date: 2004-04-09 18:23
OK, I have read interesting answers just by using "search Eb clarinet" through this forum.
So, please just take into consideration my very important last question in the message above...
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Author: Terry Stibal
Date: 2004-04-09 21:00
My one observation on playing the Eb clarinet is that I had a devil of a time until I made one specific temporary modification to the horn, That was to take some warm wax and _temporarily_ plug the tone hole for the Eb/Bb "sliver" key operated by the third finger, left hand.
(This is a classic technique that was once used to seal the unused bottom holes on clarinets back before they were specifically "handed". The player plugged the low notes not stopped by the little finger of a particular hand, and everything was fine.)
Once this was done, I found that I never squeaked on a note and playing was thereafter roughly similar to playing a soprano. For the loss of a couple of altissimo fingerings and the use of the key as an alternative in the lower register, I got a lot of stability.
Of course, I have big fat hands, and have long ago had the sliver keys on my soprano horns cut down to something more like the one on my Selmer bass clarinet.
Another way to do it is to get some of the firm polyethylene foam used for packing dishes and the like, and then carefully wedge a piece of it under the sliver portion of the Eb/Bb key. This helps it stay shut during casual contacts with the key, and has the added benefit of still allowing it to function when firmly pressed.
I note that there is one minor clarinet manufacturer who has abandoned this key completely. One more fragment of the original "modern" clarinet of Ivan Mueller that fades into the mists of time.
leader of Houston's Sounds Of The South Dance Orchestra
info@sotsdo.com
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Author: paulwl
Date: 2004-04-10 16:15
FWIH from experienced eeferers (is that even a word?), it's only difficult if you're doing it right.
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Author: Grabnerwg
Date: 2004-04-10 20:13
Here's some tips on becoming a successful Eb player:
Get the best horn you can. Intonation is always a problem on the Eb. Try lots of clarinets until you find one that you can play reasonably in tune.
Get a great mouthpiece.
If you have really big hands, you are fighting an uphill battle. Try the bass clarinet instead.
If you want to play in an orchestra, get Peter Hadcock's book on plying the Eb clarinet. (Gary VanCott has it available). This book is invaluable. It gives you ALL the important excerpts, and suggests fingerings for the altissimo nates that really help.
Buy and USE a tuner.
Otherwise, its just a small clarinet. LOL
Walter Grabner
www.clarinetxpress.com
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Author: Alphie
Date: 2004-04-10 22:15
I quote Grabnerwq. A bad instrument is a waiste of money no matter the price. Stick to the big four labels when you choose. It's always a good start.
A MP/reed combo that helps you play easily without pinching in the altissimo register is a must. Playing Schostacovitch and pinching= no, no. When playing music written very much in the high register pick a reed on the hard side to give prior to stability. Your chest shuld feel large and your throat wide open. Use a lot of air in all dynamics. Imagine the notes being reached from "above" instead of from "below".
Peter Hadcock's book is very good.
Alphie
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2004-04-12 14:18
To add on to Walter's advice:
It is possible to modify the keywork of an Eb clarinet to accomodate larger fingers --- I have done that to my own instrument (a humble hard-rubber M. Lacroix from the 1930's or '40s which happens to play very well in tune) -- but there is a certain amount of work involved --- what I've done is:
Shorten and narrow the sliver keys;
Narrow and bend to the right the throat A key;
Shorten the register key spatula;
File a slope onto the small key cup which is just below the l.h. index finger (to give more clearance for that finger);
Add a "false" chimney (ring) to the bare hole on which the l.h. ring finger sits, to bring its height up to that of the other three fingers.
These modifications have changed my eefer from unplayable to comfortable (for me, anyway).
Just some thoughts -- as always, 'your mileage may vary'.
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