 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ClariKid5
Date: 2012-08-25 18:32
Hi guys, I'm going to play the Eb for my school and I was wondering if anyone had any tips for playing it. Having problems with voicing up top and squeaking, as anyone would their first few times.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2012-08-25 19:02
practice, practice, practice.
And do yourself the favour and have the instrument checked for proper function, buy a new reed and, if budget allows, a good mouthpiece (Bundy Signature Hard Rubber or Yamaha 4C when on a budget)
--
Ben
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Author: Gary Foss
Date: 2012-08-25 19:26
Watch that you don't take too much mouthpiece, their smaller profile takes some adjustment.
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Author: DaveKessler
Date: 2012-08-25 20:16
If you need a good mouthpiece, I have a Woodwind Company hard rubber Eb mouthpiece that we have just laying around. If you dont have a good Eb clarinet mouthpiece, I would just have you pay the shipping and give you the mouthpiece for free.
Dave Kessler
Kessler & Sons Music
http://www.kesslermusic.com
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2012-08-26 02:08
The most important thing to remember is that you're not the soloist or the leader of the clarinet section. Your function is to add color and sparkle to the section sound, not create it.
If you can't hear everyone else, you're playing too loud. And most of the time, if you can hear yourself as separate from the section, you're playing too loud.
Play a mezzo forte low E and gradually squeeze the register key until you pop up to B, working to carry the warmth and chalumeau color up. Then go to F/C and so on. When you get to A/E, roll your left index finger down to get C#, once again carrying the warmth and cover up from E to C#. Your goal is to hold a good tone throughout the range of the instrument.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Clarimeister
Date: 2012-08-26 08:59
The way my teacher describes it, which works extremely well, is to think of a huge air column when playing Eb. Think Bass clarinet air column. More open than you would think. This helps with notes not being so bright and screechy (well, it IS an Eb, but at least to compensate for some of the shrillness), also as well as keeping the instrument from going VERY sharp in the upper clarion as well as high C# and D.
The extreme high notes such as D#-G, definitely don't bite, and use a very high air speed (high tongue position). And, learn as many fake and trick fingerings as you can for the upper register. They come so much in handy for various pieces.
As far as tuning goes. You just have to use your ear. You make adjustments as quickly as possible. Easier said than done, but more you play it, the more you get used to what tendencies you're instrument as well as yourself have. ALWAYS practice Eb with a tuner to see what your setup wants to do.
I have two viewpoints on Eb. Not always true, but for the most in my opinion is very helpful to think of. For wind ensembles/concert/symphonic band/etc. You are there to add colour to the upper woodwinds. Most of the time you'll be doubling flute and piccolo, and frequently doubling with the 1st clarinets. In orchestras, most of the composers wrote for Eb as a solo instrument. There are indeed many times where you will have to blend, definitely more so for wind ensembles, but for orchestra, the composers usually wanted that Eb sound heard. Not blastissimo, but loud enough to be distinct.
Good luck, and definitely ask more questions. You'll get a lot of good advice here.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2012-08-26 12:36
Practice études and scales as you would on Bb so that you get used to the voicing and register. That is a very generous offer from Dave Kessler. If you are looking around, the Hite mouthpiece is a great player at a very reasonable price.
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Author: ClariKid5
Date: 2012-08-27 12:54
It's an R-13 with a B44 mouthpiece and Eddie Daniels Rovner / Vandoren Klassik ligature.
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Author: Clarimeister
Date: 2012-08-27 16:12
B44's are good mouthpieces. A few pros I know use them in orchestras. I use a B40, which a little more covered sound, but I'm, still able to get a big orchestral sound as well as blending with other instruments.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2012-08-28 14:48
As indicated above you need a good instrument, a good mouthpiece, one that you feel comfortable on, a good reed and finally proper voicing. Then you play the Eb clarinet by ear.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
Post Edited (2012-08-28 21:28)
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2012-08-28 19:14
Also be prepared to learn some alternate fingerings to compensate for intonation issues.
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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