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Name this effect

Author: christian_comeau
Date: 2006-06-14 12:15

Hi,
Yesterday, I went to a jazz show and saw something cool on a bass clarinet.
I already heard that with a sax and I guessed we could do it on a soprano clarinet too.

It's almost (only?) used in high notes: they make them sound...scratchy. I don't think it's a flutter, looks like they are saying "crrr" in their mouthpieces.
I know it isn't clear, if you know how to call it or how to produce it, please tell me!

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Re: Name this effect

Author: redwine
Date: 2006-06-14 12:54

Hello,

I think what you're talking about is a growl. Try singing into your mouthpiece as you play normally (of course, this will change your embouchure). Experiment with singing the same pitches you are playing and with singing different pitches than you are playing.

Ben Redwine, DMA
owner, RJ Music Group
Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
Selmer Paris artist
www.rjmusicgroup.com
www.redwinejazz.com
www.reedwizard.com

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Re: Name this effect

Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2006-06-14 14:14

The trumpet player Cootie Williams was famous for his growl, along with his use of the plunger mute. He began with Duke Ellington and then had his own bands. (A well known number is "When Cootie Left the Duke.")

http://www.aaregistry.com/african_american_history/1021/An_innovator_on_Trumpet_Cootie_Williams

Ken Shaw

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Re: Name this effect

Author: christian_comeau
Date: 2006-06-14 15:01

Nope...
It sounds more like he's playing so loud the reed is "over-blown" or something like that.

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Re: Name this effect

Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2006-06-14 16:09

The description sounds too far back to be a flutter-tongue, and too fast to be a gargle in the back of the throat. I assume it's a "chh" sound, as in the German "Ach" except made farther forward, with the middle-rear part of the tongue vibrating against the soft palate forward of the uvula. It's possible to make a scratching articulation that way. Sort of the sound boys make when pretending to fire a pistol -- PCHhh, PCHhh.

Another possibility is to say "D" with the front part of the tongue, broaden and press the rest of the tongue against the roof of the mouth and the teeth and release the air as in "diddle," making the noise with the air leaking around the sides of the tongue.

Is either of these closer to what you heard?

Ken Shaw

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Re: Name this effect

Author: Gobboboy
Date: 2006-06-14 16:34

It's most probably a growl sound made by distorting the air flow through the instrument by humming whilst blowing - try blowing any note (the higher the better) and say in in quite a low piched voice "mmm"

some people describe it as 'singing down the instrument' but I feel that can be misleading in the fact that it really needs to be a lower pitched hum to really distort the sound

That and flutter tounging (with the exception of multiphonics) are pretty much the only ways to alter the coarseness of the tone and still produce sound at pitch.

just my thoughts anyway

G

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Re: Name this effect

Author: christian_comeau
Date: 2006-06-14 16:41

I don't have my clarinet with me for the moment...I'll try this later.
It's really simple... mostly heard at saxophone.

Thanks

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Re: Name this effect

Author: Max S-D
Date: 2006-06-15 18:03

It's easy on sax, but it's hard to maintain a good embouchure and growl at the same time.

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