 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: recursiveloop
Date: 2004-12-19 04:52
I am an alto sax player, and I have just started to learn the contra alto clarinet. Does anyone know of a good online fingering chart for the contra alto specifically? I know other generic clarinet fingering charts work for a part of the instrument's range, but there are also keys on the contra alto that are not on higher versions, and I have read that its fingerings are different in the very low and very high ranges.
Also, I know this is kind of a general request, but while I'm at it I might as well ask...is there any advise you have for the playing of this instrument?
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Author: Contra
Date: 2004-12-19 05:06
http://www.wfg.woodwind.org/clarinet/index.html
For all your fingering chart needs. Sorry, I don't know how to do the link thing.
Contra is a baby monster. Tame it. It's not too hard. Compared to alto sax, it has an extremely loose embouchure. It will probably double bari sax pieces. Bass clef transposition is a snap. Unless you have a Leblanc, it can use bari sax reeds. The rods are pretty long and can be easily dented. And if it is school-owned, a trip to the repair shop is probably in order.
Post Edited (2004-12-19 05:08)
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Author: recursiveloop
Date: 2004-12-19 05:32
Thanks for the quick resonse. Yeah, the first minute I tried to play it, I was very puzzled because I wasn't getting any sound at all, and tightening my embouchure didn't help. Then I realized that I was going the wrong way, so I loosened it. Lo and behold, a sound, and a very low one at that.
To be blunt, I'm rather confused by all those different systems...I will assume mine is Boehm-system since it says that is the most common, but how do I know?
I will also just put my other question in here, in case someone could answer it. I have been playing around with fingerings a little with another fingering chart, and I can get C (below the staff) to A# to play well, in fact very well, I cannot get to the B directly above the A#. One thing that confuses me is the fingerings: there are groups of 4 keys in 2 places on the chart where there are 5 keys on the instrument. Also, is this a problematic note, or are notes in the Clarion register simply harder to get to than those in the Chalumeau?
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Author: Contra
Date: 2004-12-19 06:18
The lowest extra key for the right hand is for the low Eb. Contras get out of adjustment notoriously easily, which might be why you're having trouble. My middle staff B played horribly until it went into the shop and got new pads.
And it's a Boehm style clarinet. Contras aren't made with the Albert or Oehler systems. At least, not to my knowledge.
Post Edited (2004-12-19 06:20)
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2004-12-20 15:09
The Buffet contra alto has a pierced pad for the left index finger and so can play in the altissimo like a bass clarinet. However, very few of these are around, due mostly I suppost to the astronomical list price (over $12,000).
The Selmer and Leblanc (and the plastic instruments -- Vito, Bundy/Linton, etc.) have no altissimo vent and so require special fingerings, which are unique to each brand, and often to each instrument.
The low-clarinet virtuoso Terje Lerstad has a chart of fingerings that work for him, which is the best place to start. http://kunst.no/lerstad/altissimo.html
Ken Shaw
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