 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: coasten1
Date: 2004-06-22 17:41
Just seeing if anyone else can do what I am describing. When I was taking lessons, my clarinet teacher could blow a series of overtones off given notes. Take 3rd space C for instance. She could play the C and then all the overtones above it. I can play the C and then jump a good interval before I hit an overtone. She could get all the ones in between. I thought maybe it was her clarinet, but she could do it on mine too. I have have tried many times to duplicate this with no success. Anyone know what I am describing?
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Author: DAVE
Date: 2004-06-22 18:43
Yeah--it's kinda like controlled squeeking. For instance if you squeek on open G you'll probably get a high D. The same thing is going on with your teacher. The best trick is to do it on third line B. You can actually play reveli(sp?) based on that pitch without moving any fingers. you can do it on the others also but it isn't as in tune.
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Author: Tara
Date: 2004-06-22 19:53
It's easier for some people to play revelli (SP???) on B by sort of plugging up the bell... cross your legs and put it up against your calf. Saw a guy do this once... pretty interesting.
Tara
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Author: ginny
Date: 2004-06-23 15:45
My teacher has had me do that as an exercise, in airflow and tongue position rather than merely embouchere. The long notes overtones (B C D) are hard play without the register key.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-06-23 16:15
I had not really tried to blow harmonics on a clarinet, intentionly. will do so on my bass, for kicks, will be interesting to see if any "even numbers" will respond, otherwise with "odds", will be up in the "squeeks" rapidly. Have done so on alto sax, from low Bb, quite a few will speak. Off on a toot, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: John Scorgie
Date: 2004-06-24 06:57
coastenl --
Rather than trying to start on 3rd line C you might want to try fingering middle C and then going to G on top of the staff without using the register key. If that doesn't work right away, try fingering G on top of the staff with the register key (normal fingering) and then slip your thumb off the register key while maintaining the G pitch.
Starting with the middle C fingering, you should soon be able to do at least C -- G -- E -- A.
(You can also play different overtone series starting from chalumeau register notes other than middle C).
Understand that the overtone series will be "out of tune" (flat) when compared to the tempered scale. Don't worry about that right now. Once you are comfortable with overtone basics, you can then make adjustments with your lips, oral cavity and airstream in order to match the higher overtone pitches with the regular fingering pitches, in much the same way as we make slight adjustments in order to play the altissimo register in tune using the regular fingerings.
The "bugle call" on 3rd line B is a great overtone exercise and also fun to do. Once you can do it on 3rd line B you might want to try it from low E (no register key).
BTW, overtone practice is a serious exercise, not a "gimmick". Many fine clarinet teachers (and virtually all fine saxophone teachers) require it as part of their curriculum. My first professional clarinet teacher, Robert Miller, introduced me to the "bugle calls" circa 1955.
You should find that concentrated overtone practice will improve your tone, flexibility and control, especially in playing high pitches at p and pp dynamic levels.
Good luck and let us know how you are doing.
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Author: coasten1
Date: 2004-06-24 16:13
Oh, I understand and can blow up the register from the low to the high without the register key. Just like high E and A use the same fingering above the staff. It is just that my teacher could play all the intermediate overtones on the same fingering. That is what I have trouble doing.
My teacher would also have me play top space G and let the register key close then play down to a B trying to not lose the B which would eventually drop down to low E.
I agree that learning about overtones on the clarinet can help significantly with tone and flexibility. In the last 3 years of taking lessons, I have learned so much about the clarinet which improved my playing by leaps and bound over all the playing I did for the first 20 years starting when I was 10. If I only had the quality lessons when I was young, who knows where my playing ablility would be now.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-06-24 20:59
Yes, it can be done, I can get several O T's from botton F and C above it, with embouchure "manipulation", lower lip drawn back and loose, more mp in mouth [a bari sax emb??], try the various register vents. Not something I'd try, even in rehearsal. Nowhere near as easy and good-sounding as the oboe's harmonics using the higher octave key, very useful and stable , for above staff A, B, C, as I recall. ?Better on conical bore horns?? Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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