 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: 25clarinets
Date: 2010-08-26 03:36
Hi! I am a freshman clarinetist in high school that needs help with some range issues. Today I figured out that I can play to high c above c that's above the staff, but the g in between those 2 c's tends to squeak a lot when I get to it. The notes above the g are fine, but that g always squeaks and usually doesn't stay very stable after it's done squeaking. I have experimented some with my tongue, and I have found that when I am going chromatically from the F# to the G(slowly), I have to arch my tongue more and bring my tongue off the reed. This usually results in it not squeaking. So, my question is,"Is it an error in tongue position?" Am I just not bringing my tongue away from the reed fast enough, or is there something I am missing? Could there be something wrong with the instrument? Thank you for reading this post and(hopefully) answering!
The young grasshopper at clarinet playing
If you have time to worry, play
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Author: kdk
Date: 2010-08-26 12:17
"I have to arch my tongue more and bring my tongue off the reed."
Can you clarify this part of your post? Isn't your tongue off the reed when you play the rest of the notes on the instrument?
Also, just to be sure, is the problem note you're asking about this one? ![[G6]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/g6.gif)
Karl
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2010-08-26 12:35
I would say you may have a leaky pad, the one in between your left first and second finger..............or the ring is too low (not closing that pad) or too high (your second finger is not sealing that hole).
Leakiness is critical in the altissimo.
..............Paul Aviles
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Author: 25clarinets
Date: 2010-08-26 12:52
yes kdk, That is the note that constantly squeaks when I go to it from f#. I take the tongue off the reed and keep it arched while playing g. I also keep the tongue off the reed as I go up from G, but I keep the tongue on all the notes below G.
If you have time to worry, play
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-08-26 15:09
Yes, there could be a leak. The problem could also be that the difference in resistance from the F# to the G is a good deal, more than going from the other notes. First try some different fingerings, I have a fingering chart on my website that has 5-6 F# and a whole bunch of Gs. See if any of those combinations make a difference in equalizing the resistance. (The side key G fingering has very little resistance, more equal to the F#) Without hearing and watching you it's difficult to say what you are doing to cause the squeak. It's probably something with your tongue, assuming the pad is not leaking in the lower joint, so I suggest once that's checked out that you try not changing anything from the F# to the G because you probably are without realizing it. Just keep you air support steady and don't change anything. Just blow through it. If that doesn't work well do that from E to G, then F to G then F# to G. When playing in a scale passage one should not be moving the tongue from one note to another. It may be slightly different when playing slowly to slightly voice differently but not in a scale. Just imagine you tongue moving up, down, back and forth in a fast scale passage, scary isn't? ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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