 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: RewBicks
Date: 2011-08-24 06:28
Hi everyone,
I've just gotten back into clarinet after a long hiatus, and I was hoping somebody could answer a quick "technical" question for me (I'm in the market for a teacher to help sort these things out, don't worry). I am not a beginner - I'm currently working through the Rose etudes with some success - but when the pace picks up (and only then), I'm having a problem slurring from G to B and C across the bridge. The problem is that I'm getting a slight "delay" before the B "sings" about half the time. I'm still able to play things involving the slur at tempo, but those notes are not singing as they should. I've always had good breath support (or so I've been told), so I'm a bit confused about whether it's the clarinet or the operator at this point (perhaps a leak?).
If it's me and not the clarinet, I imagine it's a common problem. If anyone could take a sec to help me out, it would be greatly appreciated (and if you know of any exercises that might be of use, other than just running through the trouble spots over and over, that would also be great). Apologies for the question that should be directed at a teacher. I'll get there soon enough!
EDIT: I should add that this is only really a problem when I slur from G. Slurring from A, F, etc. seems to be much less of a problem.
Post Edited (2011-08-24 06:31)
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Author: dtiegs
Date: 2011-08-24 11:12
have you considered the alternate fingerings??? you don't have to do if you don't want to but the side keys... the ones for making the F and F# ... sorry i don't know the name for them, but it was something my instructor pointed out. a throat Bb and the second from the top makes a B. and if you add the very first from the top it makes a C... i don't know if i have helped.. thanks for listening.
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Author: concertmaster3
Date: 2011-08-24 11:39
It's a common problem. If you haven't, make sure you're clarinet gets looked at, especially if you've been away from it for a long time.
Also, make sure you have a constant flow of air through the horn itself. Think about it logically. For the G to sound, air comes out of a tonehole high in the upper joint, where as the B has to travel down through the bell. If you don't put enough "good" air to get the B to speak, you're going to get a delay in the sound. Try this:
Play the B, then play the G using the same kind of air that you used to play it B (Since the B is more resistant). Now, play the slur using that same air.
The other part of this is to make sure your fingers hit at the exact same time, otherwise there will be some delay in the sound.
Good luck!
Ron Ford
Woodwind Specialist
Performer/Teacher/Arranger
http://www.RonFordMusic.com
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Author: BobD
Date: 2011-08-24 12:21
Sounds like a timing problem between your two hands
Bob Draznik
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-08-24 14:43
Keep your right hand fingers down (and LH pinky) needed for the upper note when playing slurred intervals from open G, G#, A and Bb so the transition is smoother. Practice it by continuously repeating the notes slowly at first so both notes are slurred smoothly and gradually increase the speed.
So when going from G to B (if the next note is a C), keep all your right hand fingers down and the left hand E/B key while playing open G (oooE/B|xxxF/C) and then add the left thumb and fingers for the B. For G to B that isn't followed by a C or G to C this is much easier as you only have to keep the right hand fingers down.
This is much better than all fingers off - all fingers on as it's more reliable and also adds more resonance to the open G.
So practice the following intervals across the break slowly until you can get them smooth and only when you can slur them smoothly, increase the speed:
G-B (using both LH and RH fingerings for the B)
G-C
G-D
G#-B
Ab-C
A-B
A-C
A-C# (using both LH and RH fingerings for the C#)
Bb-B
Bb-C
Bb-D
Bb-Eb
And keep your hands and fingers relaxed isntead of tensing up.
I've just had someone come round to free the stuck barrel on their clarinet and his hands were very tense when he played which meant he was pressing the keys closed firmly instead of just closing them (and he didn't put the right hand fingers down in preparation for going across the break which caused the upper note to speak late or not at all).
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: TianL
Date: 2011-08-24 14:52
assuming there is no issue with the clarinet and you are not stopping the air, then it's almost certain that your fingers are not all "in-sync" with each other. also make sure that you don't try to adjust your embouchure.. that could hurt too.
it just takes practice.. if you do it 1000 times a day then in a week you will probably have it figured out.
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Author: TianL
Date: 2011-08-24 14:52
one more thing to add.. make sure your fingers are relaxed!!
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2011-08-24 15:36
I'm with Bob on this one. Significant chance that your fingers aren't all going down at the same time. Compensating "by pushing more air through" just masks the problem.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: RewBicks
Date: 2011-08-24 17:18
Thanks so much to all - this was one hundred percent a finger issue. I've taken Chris's advice and already had VERY dramatic difference. Very much, much appreciated.
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Author: johng ★2017
Date: 2011-08-25 03:20
Sounds like you got your solution. I just wanted to add that since it is an intermittent problem it probably has to do with a finger not quite landing correctly and leaving the tone hole slightly open. Chris's suggested exercises should work just fine to get that worked out.
John Gibson, Founder of JB Linear Music, www.music4woodwinds.com
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Author: RewBicks
Date: 2011-08-25 20:50
John, I think that's exactly right. Once the pace picks up, my finger timing/placement gets less precise and the problem arrives. Given that I'm playing on a Series 9, which has large toneholes, I imagine the problem was only exacerbated. Under ordinary circumstances, no problem, but (e.g.), in Rose Study #2, there are a series of fast transitions of this sort and this was keeping me at a pace about 10bpm too slow. Having worked on the new fingerings, it's much improved.
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