 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Matt_Clarinet
Date: 2014-09-10 12:17
When playing in the altissimo register of the clarinet, I tend to find that the notes are always sounding too harsh, and especially loud. Usually to play notes from this register I have to use a lot more air than I would normally because otherwise they won't come out properly. This results in a sound that is much too loud. The only way that I have managed to play them softly and in tune is to bite, which is painful and I have been advised against doing. Would anyone have any suggestions on how to play the high notes with a softer and less piercing tone?
Post Edited (2014-09-10 13:41)
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-09-10 13:47
The higher you go on the clarinet, the less length of the reed that vibrates. So, when you are in the altissimo it is only the very tip of the reed that is vibrating. The problem with less experienced players is usually the opposite of your description where they 'clamp' or 'bite' to achieve those notes and get a buzzy, shrill, squeezed off sound, if any at all.
The altissimo does require faster air because of the nature of the what's happening with the reed. I describe it to students as requiring more "energy." Another way to look at it is the analogy of what goes on in the lower octave. Play the written "C" below the staff, then try to achieve the "G" that sits on the staff with only using more air and NOT opening up the octave key. Once you can skip from the chalumeau to the clarion this way, you can take that same 'feeling' and apply it to the skip from the clarion to the altissimo........ same idea.
The way you describe what is happening sounds to me as if the mouthpiece is too open, or the reeds you use too strong, or both. But work on the 'non-octave' key first to see if that helps.
............Paul Aviles
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Author: nbclarinet
Date: 2014-09-11 01:47
Make sure that when you are pushing your air, you are shaping it like an EEEEEE sound instead of an OOOOO sound. This will allow the altissimo to speak easier and should help you to relax your jaw (i.e not biting)
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2014-09-11 05:57
Sorry, too much eeeeeee and you get a very small bright tone often forced because you have to force more air through a smaller opening. Someplace in the middle is best depending on the individual player. One has to experiment with the tongue and throat position as well as the embouchure. It's just not the same for everyone. I've found it much easier to play that register better as I found a mouthpiece that allowed me to do that. It's so important to find the right one for the player, and then match it to the reed that's best for that mouthpiece.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2014-09-11 06:24
An easy thing to experiment with is your reed strength. Seconding both Ed and Paul, if your reed is too hard for your mouthpiece, the result can be exactly what you're describing. It's not the only possible reason, but maybe one of the most easily remedied.
Karl
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-09-11 06:32
Dear Mr. Palanker,
I'd have to agree to disagree on the point regarding the "EEEEE" position of the tongue. Perhaps many of us do other things as well that are detrimental when assuming this phonic position. But if one is isolating ONLY the tongue position, what you have is (the ideal) a more focused channel that makes the air column move faster (in contrast, the same volume of air passing through a larger channel would move slower). So, for my money, if you only change the size of the air channel, then you only increase air speed......which is what you want.
I would quickly add that relating various tongue/oral cavity postures to 'vocalizations' runs the risk of delving into all the baggage that goes along with what we do to 'vocalize' certain sounds. This includes engaging the tongue, facial muscles, lip muscles and and the amount one has the jaw open. It is VERY difficult to isolate one event out of a combination of events that we have come to take for granted since we were infants. It is easy to see where we may disagree over what is merely a misidentification of what is going on in there.
...............Paul Aviles
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Author: Matt_Clarinet
Date: 2014-09-11 09:27
Paul, I tried doing what you said, I can play any notes from open g down to low g without using the register key, but not below that at this point. Even when applying the technique to the altissimo register, though it is much better to do it than not to, I have still not had the same consistency.
Nbclarinet, I have been already making the eeee shape, I find that it helps to an extent, but doesn't solve the problem.
Ed, what is your mouthpiece/reed setup? And is there a particular one that you would recommend in relation to this?
Kdk, this is exactly what I wondered as well, I play Rico Reserve Classics 3.5, the threes definitely get too soft, but I have only recently tried playing 3.5s again.
Thank you all for the suggestions.
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Author: ruben
Date: 2014-09-11 11:01
Matt: You've been given some very sound advice here-pun intended. If I may just add one small, seemingly insignificant parameter: make sure your fingers are covering the holes perfectly. Everybody talks about how leaks throw off one's tone and intonation, in reference to the seating of pads, but what about the 7 holes we cover with our finger-tips? If we're not doing this adequately, we will produce a leak. High D above the staff, for instance: if your right index finger isn't sealing the first ring of the top hole of the bottom joint perfectly, the note will have trouble coming out. Also, I for one believe that the altissimo register requires a little bit of subtle, almost imperceptible vibrato to make it attractive. Let's face it: these notes are not all that pretty on the clarinet. We don't get those sublime, silvery tones on the high notes that a violin can obtain.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-09-11 12:13
Oooooooh.......
And along those lines (thanks Ruben!) I just had a student who was having a very consistent problem with the altissimo; shrill notes, chipping etc. It turned out that the LH second finger ring was too high. That finger pad was not reaching the tone hole to seal it properly and it only showed up as a problem up there. I NEVER thought to check that even though I am a fanatic about having my own rings flush with the tone hole (I have big hands and fat fingers) on my axe.
.............Paul Aviles
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