 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Bluesparkle
Date: 2010-05-03 02:20
I have always struggled with ghost tones when tonguing higher notes. Is there any exorcism for this ghastly issue?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Connor
Date: 2010-05-03 04:33
A couple of thoughts:
1. Often, I find ghost tones (or grunts) are caused from excessive biting (lower lip pressure). My personal solution to this is to practice articulation using a double lip embouchure.
2. Sometimes a reed that is just a hair too resistant can cause excessive biting creating a ghost tone while articulating, therefore a softer reed can help with the problem of ghosts.
3. This takes a little more time to master but may help the problem in the long run: If while articulating the tongue presses to far or pressed into the reed with too much pressure, a ghost tone may result. A solution is to practice stopped tongue technique. This technique is when the tip of the tongue touches the tip of the reed for the same duration that the reed is in vibration during an exercise pattern:
Take a C major scale and play the first 5 notes in quarter notes at 84bpm placing a rest between each note. During the rest, the tongue is on the reed preventing vibration while the air column is still engaged. Carefully analyze exactly where the tongue is on the reed each time it come in contact with the reed. Now consider how much pressure the tongue is placing against the reed and try to achieve the lightest touch possible while still stopping the reeds vibration. Continue to move higher up the C major scale. As the technique becomes more familiar, increase the speed. This technique should help with cleanly articulation if all else fails.
Connor
MM. Clarinet Performance University of Texas at Austin (2012).
BM. Clarinet Performance University of Northern Colorado (2010).
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: RoBass
Date: 2010-05-03 07:15
...and the angle of horn in relation to body axis. Move your head up and loose your embouchure at most!
And for the rest: Longtones, slurry, longtones, slurry...and longtones, slurry... ;-))
kindly
Roman
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-05-04 14:15
This could be caused by a variety of problems that would be easier to diagnose if I could hear and watch you play in person and experiment with some changes. From my experiences though I can tell you that it could be that the back of your tongue is too low. If you're not already doing it try keeping the back of your tongue up close to the back of your teeth by or slightly in between your molars. I have something about that on my website in the clarinet articles pages. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
