 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sinebar
Date: 2009-05-11 19:55
Some of my exercises go up to the high E flat above the staff. I can just barely get it for about a second but I can't sustain it. Is there any trick to this note?
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Author: pewd
Date: 2009-05-11 23:03
how long have you been playing? and what strength reed are you using?
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: beejay
Date: 2009-05-11 23:32
The trick is to keep the same amount of air pressure without forcing the high notes. Try playing G in the middle of the clarion register and high E in the same breath, over and over again. Once you have done it for about half an hour, you may have turned all the neighbors against you, but you will find the E pops out quite easily without having to tighten your embouchure. The trick is to keep a steady column of air without allowing a break between the notes as you are practicing. Your reed should not be too weak.
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2009-05-12 08:10
Search on 'half-holing' (that's where the first finger of the left hand only half-covers the hole. Might help the note speak.
If the piece allows it, play the 'E' as a clarion 'G' with the first finger of the LH also hitting the G#/Ab key.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-05-12 13:54
There's no easy answer without actually seeing and hearing what you're doing. It could be your reed, your mouthpiece, your embouchure, your tongue position, your throat position or your air support or any combination of those. Choose, or two. I suggest you see a clarinet teacher. ESP
http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: sinebar
Date: 2009-05-12 14:10
how long have you been playing? and what strength reed are you using?
Been playing about 5 months and I'm using a 2.5 legere.
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Author: pewd
Date: 2009-05-12 14:33
whats posted above, plus try a vandoren #3.0
i don't recommend synthetic reeds for beginners.
i should also have asked what mouthpiece you're using.
also some lessons with a private teacher to check out your embouchure, breathing, posture, etc.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: sinebar
Date: 2009-05-12 14:39
pewd wrote:
>
> whats posted above, plus try a vandoren #3.0
> i don't recommend synthetic reeds for beginners.
>
> i should also have asked what mouthpiece you're using.
>
> also some lessons with a private teacher to check out your
> embouchure, breathing, posture, etc.
>
Mouthpiece is a Selmer C85 115
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2009-05-12 14:59
> Been playing about 5 months and I'm using a 2.5 legere.
> Mouthpiece is a Selmer C85 115
Sounds OK...
Some more thoughts on the traditional 'E' fingering (Thumb, Speaker, LH 2&3, Ab/Eb):
1. Make sure to use the RH Eb/Ab key to bring the note up to pitch
2. Practice on the Eb and D below until they're easy
3. Practice with a tuner; make sure the notes are up to pitch
4. Attack the note fearlessly
5. Practice somewhere you won't be afraid to be heard... :-)
6. Find a teacher to listen and help with embouchure and support and other things we can't discuss easily (though a search will find loads of stuff).
7. This fingering also sounds the 'A' above. Maybe see if you can find it (squeeeek!)
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Author: sinebar
Date: 2009-05-12 15:01
Bassie wrote:
> > Been playing about 5 months and I'm using a 2.5 legere.
> > Mouthpiece is a Selmer C85 115
>
> Sounds OK...
>
> Some more thoughts on the traditional 'E' fingering (Thumb,
> Speaker, LH 2&3, Ab/Eb):
>
> 1. Make sure to use the RH Eb/Ab key to bring the note up to
> pitch
> 2. Practice on the Eb and D below until they're easy
> 3. Practice with a tuner; make sure the notes are up to pitch
> 4. Attack the note fearlessly
> 5. Practice somewhere you won't be afraid to be heard... :-)
> 6. Find a teacher to listen and help with embouchure and
> support and other things we can't discuss easily (though a
> search will find loads of stuff).
> 7. This fingering also sounds the 'A' above. Maybe see if you
> can find it (squeeeek!)
Thanks I give that a try.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-05-12 16:26
What other woodwind instruments have you played prior to taking up clarinet, and have you got a decent teacher?
If you're only 5 months into clarint playing from scratch (and haven't played any other instruments before taking up clarinet), you're really trying to run before you can walk by playing up in the stratosphere so early on, so take your time and go back to the basics and gradually build yourself up instead of tackling them head on.
I'm against the advice of using a Vandoren 3 at this early stage, and maybe a 2.5 is also a shade on the hard side. Try dropping down to a Vandoren 2 and see if this helps as using too hard a ree so early on won't do you any favours - it may have a better overall tone being fuller and thicker (and most likely stuffy in the low register), but you're sacrificing tone for control, dynamics and articulation.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: sinebar
Date: 2009-05-12 17:05
Chris P wrote:
> What other woodwind instruments have you played prior to taking
> up clarinet, and have you got a decent teacher?
>
> If you're only 5 months into clarint playing from scratch (and
> haven't played any other instruments before taking up
> clarinet), you're really trying to run before you can walk by
> playing up in the stratosphere so early on, so take your time
> and go back to the basics and gradually build yourself up
> instead of tackling them head on.
>
> I'm against the advice of using a Vandoren 3 at this early
> stage, and maybe a 2.5 is also a shade on the hard side. Try
> dropping down to a Vandoren 2 and see if this helps as using
> too hard a ree so early on won't do you any favours - it may
> have a better overall tone being fuller and thicker (and most
> likely stuffy in the low register), but you're sacrificing tone
> for control, dynamics and articulation.
>
Well actually I started clarient about 3 years ago, played for about a year then switched to flute. I played the flute for 2 years missing the clarinet all the while so I went back to it about 5 months ago. So I guess I'm a sort of rebeginner. As for the reeds. I love the Legere's. I have compared them with cane and the sound I get on my Selmer 10S II with the legere is a really nice tone that I can't really describe. When I play a cane reed it sounds dull no matter what brand.
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2009-05-23 14:15
Hi,
Been thinking about this a bit more.
On my own instrument, the /voicing/ of the 'E' is a bit odd compared to the notes around it. That's the shape that the inside of your mouth makes when you play the note, a /bit/ like whistling, and it's how you do big glissandi. If I think 'high!', the note doesn't speak. If I think 'low', the note speaks pretty reliably.
Er, this is hard to explain. Does that make any sense?
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