 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Chiptopian
Date: 2013-06-25 19:52
I started playing alto clarinet at the beginning of this month because my director said it would be easier to get into Allstate with an alto rather than a regular clarinet. However, during my playing I have found that my alto does not like to stay in low octave and would rather play high notes. This is very frustrating and I would like to know why it is doing what it is. I have looked up alto clarinet embouchure and found it is similar to clarinet. I don't believe this is the problem. I have also researched alto in general, but because this instrument is almost dead, there isn't much information. Any help With this problem would be appreciated. Thanks in advance! ~Chiptopian
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Author: Chiptopian
Date: 2013-06-25 20:01
I switched reeds and it seemed to help until my low E decided to go and play a high C and my low G couldn't decide on whether it wanted to play low g or high D. It was almost do both notes at once...:/
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-06-25 20:41
What make alto have you got? Is it your own alto or is it on rent or loan to you?
Check the speaker mechanism/throat Bb mechanism is doing as it should and neither speaker vent nor throat Bb vent pads are remaining open when the speaker key is released - use the finest cigarette papers you can get as a feeler gauge and cut one (or two) into a long triangle with a 1mm tip. Open the pads and place the tip of the paper in the tonehole and let the pad close again, then slowly pul the paper out and if you can feel resistance (and the same degree of resistance on both pads), then the pads are closing.
Check the thumb pad is closing along with the speaker vent (the upper one) while the speaker key is held down, also check the thumb pad also closes the small pad above the LH finger 1 plate with the same pressure.
Check your finger placement on the LH finger 1 perforated plate to be sure you're covering the small hole in the centre during normal playing (you only roll down to uncover it for the altissimo register). Also check the pad in the LH1 fingerplate and the small pad above it both close with the same pressure when closing LH1 only using the feeler gauge.
Check the LH2 fingerplate along with the smaller pad above it to be sure they too both close with the same pressure when closing LH2 only.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2013-06-25 20:44)
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Author: Chiptopian
Date: 2013-06-25 21:22
This is my schools alto, I have never seen anyone play it either of my bands so I'm not sure how long it has been since it was last played. The brand is a vito and its a reso-tone. None of the keys really had any resistance. I also covered the hole better it help a little but it still went up....
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2013-06-26 00:00
Check to see that all pads are sealing, especially the upper ones. Check the side trill keys, as well as the throat A and Bb mechanisms. If any of these is not sealing, it can cause these types of problems.
Also, if you are going to be serious about this, consider a decent mouthpiece. The alto from my concert band/clarinet choir came with a really bad Yamaha 4c. I upgraded to Walter Grabner's alto mouthpiece,and it made a world of difference. Not cheap, but the sound improvement is well worth it!
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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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2013-06-26 05:11
The problem is 100% sure to be a leak near the top of the instrument. Check:
- the mouthpiece for leaks along the lay, especially at the corners of the tip
- pads
- nicks or warping in the tone hole rims
- cracks in the body wood or plastic
- pinholes through the neck, particularly at the soldered joints
- the fit between the mouthpiece and the neck, and the neck and the body
An automatic register key, if you have one, is a prime area for binding that causes leaks. Even with a single register key, you need to make sure it closes tight even when you release it gently.
A simple leak test is to your friends' fingers (or rubber bands if you must) to clamp down all the keys on the upper joint.
Don't rest the weight of your head on your upper teeth, which can cause leaks at the top or bottom of the neck. If you see the bottom of the neck tilted back so the front of the rim is raised, you're asking for a leak and putting strain on the socket at the top of the upper joint, which can cause cracking. (The problem is even worse on bass clarinets.)
Ken Shaw
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Author: Chiptopian
Date: 2013-06-28 23:49
I didn't find any leaks at the first time I tried, but I didn't look that hard. I going to try again tomorrow when I have more time.
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