 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ffrr
Date: 2005-02-26 01:12
When playing a scale from the lower register, the transition from A or Bb to B and C is a fairly major change of finger positions. Any tips would be appreciated.
I did notice some fingerings for B and C using the right hand side keys, but only delays the problem until D# or D.
(somehow I am expecting the answer will be - just practice prasctice practice :-))
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2005-02-26 01:59
Practice is indeed the answer.
Some things that help:
- Use a good airstream
- Don't break the airstream between notes
- Be mindful that the B and C are "Down" on the clarinet, rather than "higher"
- You might use resonance fingerings and/or put the B and/or C key down when still on the lower note
- Play the A and Bb through the clarinet, not at the mouthpiece
- Ensure that your fingers all transition at the same time
- Don't force the note; allow it to play
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-02-26 02:57
If it's a slow transition, you can put your right hand down in position in the "throat" G, Ab, A, or Bb notes and have that already set to the next one up.
Also, practice slowly, and work up the speed. Resonance fingerings help A LOT (as mentioned above by Alex).
Airstream/covering all the holes simultaneously I would think would be the major problems to overcome. G'luck, and practice away!
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Robert Moody
Date: 2005-02-26 03:01
Attachment: BbtoB-Natural.jpg (41k)
Attachment: BbtoB-Natural2.jpg (38k)
You might want to note, ffr, that when going from G, Ab, A, or Bb to any of the B, C, C# or D, that you can and should keep the right hand down and in position for the second note while playing the throat tones.
When I say "keep the right hand down", I mean even the left/right pinkies if going to a B, C or C# and even the ring finger of the left hand! To move between the throat tones and the lower clarion register (that is what those notes are described as), you really only need to move three fingers.
In the left hand, the only finger that is not used for those notes and which NEEDS to be up is the middle finger. The thumb and index will manipulate the throat tone you need, the middle finger hovers over the D hole, the ring finger and pinky (if needed) of the left hand are down and all over the right hand are already down in preparation for the next note.
I recommend practicing that very slowly and deliberately until the minor motion needed in the left hand fingers becomes natural. It is actually a very important part of learning to place your left hand correctly for quick manipulation of the throat tones.
I've included a couple of pictures for how the left-hand might be when playing Bb and preparing to go to B-natural. It should give you some idea of what I'm trying to get across.
Hope this helps.
Robert Moody
http://www.musix4me.com
Free Clarinet Lessons and Digital Library!
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Author: ffrr
Date: 2005-02-26 04:28
I see. I just learned something completely new to me. I didn't realise that you could have the right hand down and ready to go while still playing the 'throat tones' (and throat tones is a new term for me as well).
That makes it a bit easier. I just tried it, and yes the pitch seems uneffected.
Just curious, but what is the lowest tone not effected by the right hand? G seems OK, but F#, and defintely F seem to alter pitch.
Thanks to all the replies again. This BB is a great resource.
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2005-02-26 05:25
It alters the pitch slightly in all the throat tones. F# and below are altered significantly, as the right hand triggers the 1/1 Bb/Eb bridge.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: music_is_life
Date: 2005-02-26 19:17
hope no one already mentioned this, but I notice with my students who are just starting out that when they go over the break they have to really adjust their left thumb to get it to cover the F hole and get it on the register key. So what you should make sure to do is keep your left thumb at an angle... so the tip of your thumb is ALMOST touching the register key, so that when you have to go up (whether it's from a note that requires that your left thumb is down or not) you just put it down on the register key, rather than having to make a big adjustment to get it on the register key.
hope that helps
-Lindsie
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-02-26 22:19
Quote:
Just curious, but what is the lowest tone not effected by the right hand? G seems OK, but F#, and defintely F seem to alter pitch. G is the last one that can be done with the right hand (no F#, no F). Also, as Alex pointed out above, it DOES affect the pitch in many cases, however sometimes every so slightly that it can be corrected for with the mouth, or sometimes, can even effect them and make them MORE in tune.
For some interesting reading on this, do some searches under "resonance fingering" or some variation of that. You'll see a bunch of different fingerings on how to play throat A, Bb, and open G. I have become comfortable enough with resonance fingerings that I use them ALL the time, and I think it definitely helps with the transition to the clarion register.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: ffrr
Date: 2005-02-26 23:33
Yet another discovery for me. Resonance fingerings are very interesting. I will look into them more... thanks
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Author: donald
Date: 2005-02-27 08:40
many teachers don't advise keeping right hand down for G- it flattens the note too much on most clarinets.
i looked into this a while back, and noted how many of my colleages in symphony orchestras do this.... out of 7 people i asked/looked at only TWO used RHD for G, and both sparingly (both are pretty darn good players and studied in USA like i did). However i've never used this technique for G- only on G#, A, Bflat.
i do beleive that Jack Brymer said RHD for G was ok, so it's certainly not out of the question, and used by some great players
donald
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Author: RAMman
Date: 2005-02-27 09:09
To help a smooth transition between registers, it's worth moving the goal posts slightly.
Instead of slurring from throat A up to B, practice slurring from throat A down to low E.
This forces you to practice moving from a short air column note (throat A) to a resonant long air column note (low E), which exposes part of the problem with moving from A to B. It does however temporarily remove the problem of coordinating the register key, meaning you only have one thing to master at a time.
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Author: ffrr
Date: 2005-02-27 09:43
some more good ideas, thanks to everyone.
"An amateur practises until it's right...a pro until it's never wrong."
I like that !
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2005-02-27 17:57
Great advice, while I'm quite experienced and know of the several "helps", I still learned from reading the entire thread. About all that I can add, is that in my "doodling" before reh/concert, I like to go over and over the first few phrases of 76 Tmbs, starting on open G, to get hands and head coordinated. Its partic helpful on bass cl, to minimize the effect of resistance change on tonal response. I suggest this to newbies, some like it, seems to help. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: ffrr
Date: 2005-03-01 07:43
Thanks for the link to the earlier thread. More good ideas to try.
After reading all the advice, I get the feeling that some beginners have trouble with blowing the notes as they cross the break. For me, this question was all about the fingering. I wasn't having to much trouble with the note once I got the fingers down.
Still, plenty of time to fall into bad habits... :-)
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Author: sonatina1234
Date: 2005-03-01 17:31
I was always told to keep my RH down for G (as well as the rest of the throat tones), especially when playing arpeggios like G maj D maj etc. For notes in the chalumeau register that go sharp but are above, say, middle C (so basically C#-F#), I've found that keeping my right pinky on the low E key helps to keep the pitch down.
-------------------------------------------------
Det. Lennie Briscoe: Maybe he's got some other life-long pursuits.
Lt. Anita Van Buren: Like what? You think he plays the clarinet?
Det. Lennie Briscoe: I *hope* he plays the clarinet.
~Law & Order
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