 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: CarlT
Date: 2009-02-21 00:11
I've been playing about 10 months now, and I can fairly well play up to par for a beginner. There are at least two notes though that I still have problems with playing well...F#4 (bottom space), and Bb4 (mid-staff).
I would've thought, by now, that I could play these notes well. I can play them well if I go very slowly; however, when I'm playing scales or a tune, especially a moderately fast one, most of the time I have a problem producing a good sound with these notes. I cannot seem to hold the clarinet steady enough to play these notes well, and my weak embouchure won't keep the clarinet from slipping in my mouth, thus the bad sound.
The 3rd hardest note for me is plain old F4 (again, bottom space), but I can usually play it better than the Bb and F# notes described above.
Is there light at the end of the tunnel? Is this just a beginner thing that will eventually go away with a stronger embouchure? Are there any hints you can give me that will allow me to improve now without waiting?
For your reference, I am just about through with Rubank Elementary I.
Thank you all. I certainly have learned a lot from this Board.
CarlT
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Author: cxgreen48
Date: 2009-02-21 01:20
When you say "I cannot seem to hold the clarinet steady enough..." do you mean that you're moving your clarinet a little while moving your fingers?
Are you sitting down with the clarinet between your knees? That will help stop the clarinet from moving around.
Can you describe your "bad sound?" Do you mean these notes are airy/fuzzy sounding?
For Bb, I use the regular Bb fingering (register key and A key) with middle and ring fingers down in the left and right hand: R A-23|-23. This makes the sound more refined, less airy, and flatter for me.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2009-02-21 01:27
The "Bb" will sound better if you vent, that is, put the third fingers of each hand down on the their holes and add the third space "C" key (usu. the right hand).
As for "F#, " a suggestion would be to try the alternate fingering which is finger the "F" and just add the bottom side keys. I use this in chromatic and most other scales ALL the time.
But.....if you're having trouble with "F," I would hasten to add that you need a faster, smaller column of air (think vowel sound "EEEE" when you blow to concentrate the air stream better). And it will help to use more abdominal muscles to produce more even air and more pressure as well. It might help to think firming up the stomach area (as if you making your belly "hard as a rock") and ensuring that your stomach stays OUT as you expel air.
The above suggestions should aid in achieving a rounder more full sound as well as pure volume. Just don't let the trumpet players in your band know why you will now be able to play louder than they.
............Paul Aviles
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Author: mrn
Date: 2009-02-21 02:44
Are your top teeth sliding on the top of the mouthpiece? (I'm assuming that, like most players, you're playing with a single-lip embouchure, where you put your top teeth on the mouthpiece) If so, you might try adding a mouthpiece patch to the top of your mouthpiece to make the "beak" of the mouthpiece less slippery.
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Author: John O'Janpa
Date: 2009-02-21 22:24
Sounds like you need to exert slightly more upward force with your right thumb, so that there will be a more firm support between your mouth and right thumb.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2009-02-22 15:10
Dear John O'Janpa,
I would respectfully disagree with the idea of ANY force in this manner. Firstly, you are just asking for carpal tunnel problems if you are doing anything other than passively holding the clarinet on you thumb (the horn is quite heavy enougn!).
Additionally, I would recommend that there be NO thoughts of ANY kind of force in clarinet playing save for the muscles all around the moutpiece (kinda like a rubber band) and perhaps (just perhaps) your abdominal muscles used to produce a strong, steady stream of air.
EVERYTHING else should be ................... relaxed
..........Paul Aviles
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Author: Bluesparkle
Date: 2009-02-22 17:22
Until you get comfortable playing those notes, get a neck strap to help carry the weight of the clarinet.
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Author: CarlT
Date: 2009-02-22 19:22
Thank each of you for responding. I will try these suggestions, and I am confident one or more of them will help me make the F# and Bb notes sound better.
It is apparent to me that the less support I am able to give the instrument, the more problems I have with sound, witness the above notes; conversely, I can play a right-hand-down G with confidence and good sound. I also believe that my embouchure is not yet strong enough to give a lot of mouth support, but I hope it gets better with time. One would think that in 10 months, the embouchure would be great, but not the case with me.
As usual, I appreciate the BB very much.
CarlT
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