 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bigno16
Date: 2004-10-06 10:36
When I play high C (2 ledger lines above staff), I tend to play it flat. This happens sometimes when slurring, but usually when tonguing. In fact, sometimes it doesn't even come out when trying to tongue it, especially after playing a series of ascending sixteenth notes upwards and then tonguing the C.
I tend to not be able to keep my lips and chin completely firm while articulating, and I think that this becomes extremely apparent when trying to play this C. Could it be that without as many fingers on the clarinet to support it and help keep it in place in my mouth, maybe this is part of why I'm having trouble with this? I think it has something to do with lip pressure, an incorrect method of tonguing, and not being able to keep the clarinet steady and blow through the instrument. Can anyone help diagnose this and do you have any remedies for it? The notes about high C are easier for me to articulate than the C itself, and again I think this is because there are more fingers down to support the instrument.
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Author: Tom Piercy
Date: 2004-10-06 12:47
It sounds like you're doing a pretty good self-analysis already with your thoughts about your "infirm" embouchure and the lack of fingers on the instrument to help with instrument stability and support.
To help with the fact that you're not going to have many fingers on the clarinet for that C, try pushing up slightly with your Right Hand thumb as you approach the note, whether you are approaching it articulated or slurried.
Keep the air flow steady, perhaps even a little faster, and make sure you are not applying incorrect extra pressure with your embouchure (called "biting"). Applying incorrect extra embouchure pressure - see below - at this point when approaching the note will most likely cause the reed to collapse and not sound very good, pinched, thin, or not at all. This may be happening particularly when you are tonguing, as you may very well be adding incorrect extra embouchure pressure when you are adding articulations. Separate and isolate the tongue muscle from the embouchure muscles.
One thing you can do with your embouchure as you approach this note, and others in the higher register, is think of applying a more uniform "OO" embouchure, particularly adding a little more support from the top lip (not biting). The "OO" comes from all sides, not just top and bottom.
Tom Piercy
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Author: hans
Date: 2004-10-06 13:36
Re "Could it be that without as many fingers on the clarinet to support it and help keep it in place in my mouth, maybe this is part of why I'm having trouble with this?", ......you could try leaning the bell on your knee to see if lack of support for the clarinet is indeed a contributing factor.
Regards,
Hans
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Author: Bigno16
Date: 2004-10-06 19:21
Thanks to everyone who answered so far. I think I just have to continue working on embouchure and separating the tongue from the embouchure muscles, too as you said Tom.
David, I am now using a B40 13 mouthpiece with Vandoren V-12 size 3.5 reeds. Sometimes Brancher Jazz 4's when the V-12's aren't responding well or are dying.
I've also just noticed while slurring up from middle C to high C that, without prior tuning, all the notes below high C play about 20 cents sharp consistently. But when I reach high C it immediately drops about 10 cents or more. I even did this while keeping the bell on my knee to make sure I wasn't moving the mouthpiece around. Any thoughts about this? After high C, the D goes back to about 20 cents sharp and so on.
Post Edited (2004-10-06 19:25)
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