 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: jen
Date: 2000-04-23 16:56
My tone is fine between low A and low G, high G and high F, but my low C through my middle C is awful. It is airy and weak. How can I stregthen this area? You would think I would have problems in the really low stuff or really high stuff but not the easy notes.
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Author: HTW
Date: 2000-04-23 18:48
You are referring to the throat tones. The chalumeau register, the low notes, is strong, and the clarion register, the high notes, is stronger still (this goes for most clarinets). But the throat tones, between the two registers, is weak on any clarinet. That's because the the clarinet overblows to the 12th and not the 8ve. The tone of some notes must be comprimised. So that's why, now what can you do about it? Well, your embouchure will strengthen and improve as you keep playing, and that will help you a lot. There are studies written spefically to improve the tone on those notes also. Alternate fingerings help too, and in the throat tone area, there are quite a few alternates. For instance, the A key with the top side key can make an excellent, resonant Bb instead of the usual one. You can also put down some fingers in the lower hand. This improves the tuning as well as the tone. You can only do this from G to Bb though. Any lower than G and it will flatten the tone too much.
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Author: Keil
Date: 2000-04-24 00:37
AWHH yes, Resonance fingerings, what a joy. Speaking of which, how about we go over some common resonance fingerings to help out our friend here. My favorite, which I use religiously, is for open G, I play open G and add my index and middle finger on the right hand. Some suggest adding the right hand C/F pinky key but on my clarinet it diminishes the quality of the sound. Now on throat Bb i finger normal throat Bb and add left hand ring finger, right hand index and middle finger along with right handy pinky C/F key.
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Author: Rene
Date: 2000-04-25 08:29
I'd say, your tone is probably airy everywhere, but you do not notice because the lower and higher tones are stronger. The cure is to strengthen the tone in the throat register (with alternate fingerings mentioned in other replies), or to remove the air stream sound. This can be done by weaker reeds or firmer embochure, which comes with practice. You might also try some of the reed finishing tricks published in books or the net.
Rene
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