The Clarinet BBoard

The Clarinet BBoard The C4 standard

New Topic | Go to Top | Go to Topic | Search | Help/Rules | Smileys/Notes | Log In

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Altissimo register playing

Author: Todd H.
Date: 2000-04-02 17:06

Hi, I'm working hard at getting maximum reed vibration amplitude, increased volume and a round, reedy tonal edge as a way to get away from a pinched reed noise that I realized was happening when playing my clarinet. Well, the volume increased, I'm dialing in the reediness,(hooray!) and as time goes on my intonation is getting better,and playing is easier and more relaxed. That's all well and good, but now I haven't a clue on how to play G#4, A4, etc. I used to be able to "squeeze them out thinly, but now they are just gone! The F#4 just below these notes has good resonance, the G4 is a very weak in comparison. Please, if anyone has some ideas of how to play these altissimo notes and make them sound good I'd be grateful for the info. Thanks, Todd Holle

Reply To Message

RE: Altissimo register playing

Author: Kimberly Nisius
Date: 2000-04-09 14:39

This is a touchy subject if you are not sitting in front of a teachher. I don't even have any clarinet books to point you to, that discuss the things I am going to mention. The saxophone has lots of books on the overtones of the instrument.

I would suggest some practice of voicing, and lip and jaw placement in playing. Try playing your G3 and let go of the register key. Can you keep the pitch without letting it fall to low C? Try different voicing, using Ahh, EEE, or even the sound of RRR. Experiment sinnging high, and singing low, and keeping the larynx position from these pitches. Also adjust how much reed is in the mouth, more and less. Try progressing both up and down the clarion register (third partial) and see if you can do this exercise of playing the note, releasing the register key, but maintaining the pitch of that note.

Step two is to try to produce the first two partials of the clarient (happen to be the first and third partials). The Low C, and then G3 have the same fingering, and are partials one and three for that fingering. the fifth partial is high E which also shares this same fingering but with the register key and the index finger lifted.

Step three is to be able to produce by change of voicing, and jaw position, the fifth partial. Once these are stable, the E F and F# should be even more stable. G4 and above is the next partials above that, If you are not stable with voicing on the lower partials, you will have to bite to get this one out. Once you understand voicing, the upper partials may have no limmit.

Good luck. I wish I had a book I could refer you to.

Reply To Message

Avail. Forums | Threaded View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

The Clarinet Pages

For Sale
Put your ads for items you'd like to sell here. Free! Please, no more than two at a time - ads removed after two weeks.