 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: knduthie
Date: 2010-08-15 14:48
So it's been a while, but I'm back to playing clarinet. I'm going to be playing Brahm's 2nd sonata first movement in church. It could be because I haven't played in a while, but I've been getting overtones when I try to play high A and high D. Does anyone have any suggestions for exercises or anything else that might help with this. Thanks --
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2010-08-15 14:59
Make sure you're not biting, and make sure you don't have too much mouthpiece in your mouth. Don't tongue too hard.
But--YIKES...just back to playing and taking on Brahms' sonatas?
Best of luck with your performance!
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: ErikFranklin
Date: 2010-08-15 19:44
In addition to that, make sure your tongue is high enough in your mouth (ie. think the syllable "EE" or think "SHHH"). Tonguing too hard most likely causes a drop in the tongue, producing the same effect.
If your tongue is too low, the higher partials tend to speak...especially on notes like A and D (not sure why...).
Best of luck!
ERIK
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2010-08-15 21:21
I think that's interesting Erik, because I usually find that my students who are learning to apply the proper tongue position often overshoot to the higher overtone because the back of their tongue is high and playing the high notes becomes effectively easier.
That being said, there are a lot of variables that we're glossing over in our explanations...and we're all different in our make up and application of "fundamentals"!
On the bright side Knduthie: when you over shoot the clarion A your resulting note is an altissimo F#...the hardest note for most people to play consistently with ease in the altissimo. The D becomes a G#...one note higher than the "highest" note on the instrument.
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2010-08-16 01:57
knduthie -
Unstable notes usually come from one of four causes:
1. Leaky pads near the top of the upper joint. Put your mouthpiece on another clarinet. If the notes are stable, take your clarinet to a repair shop.
2. Misplacement of the reed on the mouthpiece so that it does not seal all the way across the tip. Make sure that there is no leakage, particularly at the corners.
3. Worn out or warped reed. Try a new reed. Also, check whether your current reed is absolutely flat on the bottom, and sand it flat if it's not.
4. Damaged mouthpiece. It's easy to bump the mouthpiece against a stand, and this can create a leak, particularly at the corner of the tip. Try another mouthpiece, and examine the lay of your current one carefully.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2010-08-16 02:24
Respectfully Ken, each issue you describe is one of equipment (and should be considered). But it is presumption to think that the issue is solely one of equipment.
There are many reasons (outside of gear) that can cause the same issues, and the ones I and Erik have described above do not exhaust them.
James
Gnothi Seauton
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