 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Niente
Date: 2008-01-16 13:20
Hi, all.
My school band is going to play Mars, and this requires that I learn to play an A doubly above the staff (the one that looks like a flute note). I have a fingering chart and have tried every fingering; however, the resultant note always end up being an E above the staff rather than that elusive A.
Could someone give me advice on how to reach said note, and if that involves momentarily altering my embouchure, please include a very detailed description.
Thank you so much!!!
Niente.
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Author: crnichols
Date: 2008-01-16 13:28
Having altissimo A speak consistently requires nothing more than practice. Although it won't happen overnight, you'll be able to get this tone consistently probably in a few weeks. It'll take longer to refine the sound. I suggest you practice it in this manner. First, play the A an octave below it, then altissimo E with the Eb key, and then A with the C# sharp key. Focus on fast air speed (eeee with the tongue) and a stable embouchure. Make sure you have plenty of reed in the mouth. Any alteration to your embouchure in voicing this note should be "beyond the realm of human feeling." It should certainly not be visually evident. That's probably the best way to start out. After you can get the note consistently with the A, E, A exercise, practice reaching it from A to A, omitting the E. After that, I would try to approach it by half step, starting from E, then F, F#, etc. Then use A minor and A major scales. That should do the trick, but it will take patience and perseverance. Also, make sure you're using a reed with a good heart and a balanced tip.
Good luck!
Christopher Nichols, D.M.A.
Assistant Professor of Clarinet
University of Delaware
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Author: Niente
Date: 2008-01-16 13:34
Thank you for your advice; I will try this. But, first, I still have not been able to produce an A at all. That is the problem. I would practice playing it, but I can't yet play it at all....
The exercises and tips are good. I will try them once I figure out how to get this note to come out.
Could someone explain how to get the A to play? If it helps, I have an M15 Vandoren mouthpiece and level 4 Vandoren gray box reeds.
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Author: NorbertTheParrot
Date: 2008-01-16 13:35
Play an E, as 0xx000. Press the right-hand Eb/Ab key - as you probably do for E anyway. Also press the left-hand C/F key. Then just "push" the note a little bit harder than usual. You should get the elusive A. You may find it easier not to tongue - just push the air by saying HEEEEE.
If that still doesn't work, try playing G, as 0x0xx0+Eb. Then slur to A. You should find that the note naturally goes upwards to the A. Slurring from G down to E is more difficult.
It's really not difficult. If you are finding it very hard work, you are probably trying too hard!
edit: Have just seen your post. I also use a M15, so you can't blame the mouthpiece. I currently use Vandoren blue-box #3, but so what? If you can play the G, you can play the A.
Post Edited (2008-01-16 13:38)
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2008-01-16 13:51
For me it's a matter of "thinking higher." I believe the difference is in a slightly higher tongue position but I don't know if it's helpful to think of it from that perspective.
Try playing the "E" with just the octave key and the "A Key." Once you get the "E" this way, try the "A" just using the "E" fingering (no right hand fingers though). This is the way I play these notes more often anyway.
..........Paul Aviles
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Author: Ryan K
Date: 2008-01-16 14:20
More air. In this case think high, but use more air.
For me, more air solves just about everything.
Ryan Karr
Dickinson College
Carlisle, PA
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Author: Molloy
Date: 2008-01-16 15:14
"If that still doesn't work, try playing G, as 0x0xx0+Eb. Then slur to A. You should find that the note naturally goes upwards to the A. Slurring from G down to E is more difficult."
This was also my experience when I was learning to play those high notes -- the G - A transition feels pretty natural.
Also, you might try half-holing with your left index finger. That can have an effect on which register you hit.
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2008-01-16 15:49
Do not get in the habit of half holing! That half hole screws up the horn's resistance and alters the pitch. Half holing during a transition can help "sneak" up on a high note, but raise that finger as soon as you can.
I was taught to half hole years ago, and breaking the habit --in order to improve my intonation and balance the timbre between notes took (is taking!) me over 18-months.
Bob Phillips
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Author: D
Date: 2008-01-16 21:04
Personally to play this note I need to have a really solid cage to work from. So I have a semi tense lower tummy, breath in calmly and not 'too' much, hold that shape with my ribs. Then the clarinet goes in the mouth, form embouchure, tongue on reed, some of the pressure moves into the mouth to get ready to play - this is the same pressure that I use to play the notes, but no sound comes out because the tongue holds the reed still. Then play the top E 0xx000. Play it as relaxed as you can in your throat. The firm cage in your ribs and tummy should mean your throat muscles are just holding a shape, not pushing separately. Then get a top A playing from another source - a friend on another instrument would be good. Hearing that A and know exactly where you are going to really helps me. Use the same fingering for the A as for the E until you get used to hitting it - worry about tuning later! When you have the A in your head then bounce your tongue off the reed again to give you a helping hand (although you will be able to slur up eventually) and speed up the air that is going through. You can't get more through, but what does go through needs to be faster. Imagine your top couple of ribs moving in a bit to create a funnel effect - more distance in less space for the air = more speed. I know my bottom lip will tighten a bit - but certainly nowhere in the realm of biting - and you will probably have to make a slight embouchure adjustment. It can't be much though. You mustn't bite to get the note - counter productive, and you also can't adjust too much. Either of these make it impossible to constantly do and therefore you'll never be able to play both fast and high. Also - biting hurts like hell after a while.
The other thing - if you have and clarinet playing friends - just ask if any of them can play the note on your instrument, and see if you can play it on theirs. You may have a slight leak.
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Author: Wayne Thompson
Date: 2008-01-17 17:59
Interesting discussion. I've been playing for 50 years and never made a concentrated effort to learn those high notes. Some years ago I found the A to work pretty OK. It's amazing the subtle help using the C# gives. Gradually, again without real work, I've found I can finally hit the B regularly. I can not reliably play the C. All of these notes seem to ask for a smaller mouth cavity (raised tongue?), which makes me think that practice is the bottom line. I've never needed to play above the A.
WT
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2008-01-17 18:26
I find that my bottom lip has to be further down the reed (toward the base of the mouthpiece). It makes it much easier for me to play and control tones. The way I set up my embouchure, I put my lip further and further down the reed (taking in more and more mouthpiece) until when I try to play an open G, I squeak. Then I back off JUST as little as necessary to NOT squeak. Then, whenever I need to hit those altissimo notes, my lower lip just rolls out a little bit, covering SLIGHTLY more reed, and I bring the clarinet a little closer to me, and it comes out MUCH easier.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
Post Edited (2008-01-17 19:12)
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Author: Bill G
Date: 2008-01-18 02:48
I second Wayne's advise to use the C# key while usuing the usual E fingering. In fact, for me the A will pop right out if I have a good reed and depress the C# key while playing E.
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2008-01-18 08:39
Can you squeak? :-D
Try and make the 'E' squeak.
And yes, it is interesting how much the long keys can affect these short notes - just favouring different overtones of given fingerings.
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2008-01-18 17:31
I have two ways that produce high A fairly consistently even on Eb clarinet. They come out a little easier on Bb and bass I've found.
One is C#/G# key, Eb/Bb key, and right hand Eb/ Ab and octave and all other keys open. That works well in running passages and feels similar in resistance/ embouchure to the other notes below it. If that is flat you can add the right hand sliver key. You can use that as the trill fingering from either the G or G3 as well.
The other is the overblown E fingering but i find the sliver key there really does help. It seems as though the resistance is better with that key opened and it comes out easier. The trill to high Bb involves the overblown F fingering also with the sliver key added.
Hope that helps.
Eefer guy
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