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Eb trauma

Author: JonTheReeds
Date: 2014-01-01 21:24

Does anyone have any advice or strategies for playing high notes cleanly?

I'm learning Poulenc's Romanza and it's coming along okay - still finding the monster A melodic minor run a bit of a pig - but it's more or less there (only another 20 years of practice and I might make it sound half as good as Sabine Meyer's version :o)

The bit I'm finding hard is top Eb, in particular the entry in bar 43

I'm improving on the other high notes by concentrating on airflow, embouchure, light tonguing etc. but the Eb is evading all efforts to reliably play cleanly - I can only get it 50% of the time, and there doesn't seem any reason why sometimes it speaks and sometimes it doesn't

Any ideas?

--------------------------------------
The older I get, the better I was

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Re: Eb trauma

Author: Tony F
Date: 2014-01-01 22:28

It might be a bit presumptuous of me to suggest it, but is the instrument in perfect order? A small leak could be contributing to your difficulties here.

Tony F.

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Re: Eb trauma

Author: Liquorice
Date: 2014-01-01 23:05

Which fingering are you using?

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Re: Eb trauma

Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2014-01-02 15:09

Could be the fingering, could be a very slight leak, could be pinching or choking. Check my website fingering chart for high Eb fingerings. See if one works better for you.

ESP eddiesclarinet.com

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Re: Eb trauma

Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-01-02 16:02

Try alternate fingerings. I am not familiar with this chart but a good alternate (only slightly alternate) 'Eb' is to use the third finger (instead of the sliver key) of the right hand with the "Eb/Ab key." Also using that one with the "C/F key" as the vent could work (though it's usually high in pitch).

...................Paul Aviles

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Re: Eb trauma

Author: jenthemusician
Date: 2014-01-03 20:38

To be honest, I've never played the Eb clarinet before. My university has one, but one student took it home and never returned it when he switched programs. *tears*
However, I found some backunmusical videos by Jessica Phillips on youtube that seem fairly credible, since she doubles Eb professionally. Here's one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yk3MpOWRaEo

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Re: Eb trauma

Author: JonTheReeds
Date: 2014-01-03 23:23

Thanks for the suggestions

I'm currently using the middle one of these
http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/Study/FingeringCharts/bbfinger.html

With 2nd and 3rd left fingers and 1st, 3rd and 4th right fingers

I'll try out different fingerings this weekend and see if that does the trick and report back!

--------------------------------------
The older I get, the better I was

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Re: Eb trauma

Author: JonTheReeds
Date: 2014-01-09 22:38

I've found a way to get the top Eb to speak every time

What I do is bring the clarinet down a bit so it's pointing more at the floor. Then I direct the airflow almost perpendicular to the reed, so I have the feeling that the air is hitting the reed about 1cm from the tip, flowing up towards the tip and round the end, and then over the roof of my mouth

I guess this isn't ideal? To get other altissimo notes to speak I blow over the roof of my mouth, but this seems a bit extreme

--------------------------------------
The older I get, the better I was

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Re: Eb trauma

Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-01-09 18:07

Sounds llke you are able to focus the airstream so that you get the air speed you require to get the altissimo just fine. That's it! You DO need more air speed for the highest notes.

...................Paul Aviles

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