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 Altissimo notes trouble
Author: Mirko996 
Date:   2015-10-19 19:11

Hi, I need your help. Is a while I'm exercising to do altissimo notes for improvisation (not the D7 to A7/B7/C8, I mean to c6 to c7). Every time I do the passage D6 to E6 starts the problem because some time I don't do E6 but A6... So I tried other position but nothing. I have this problem especially when I do "clarinade" of Benny Goodman... The other problem I have is G6. I tried other position but nothing, sometime I do B6 and I very rare case C7. When I go up and I reach c7 I have no problem, but when I do the scale in down is very rare made it without imprecision... So I have this problem with armonics and is shame because I would like those note good... I used different mountpiece like Jody espina jazz, pomarico one star and double star but nothing... But using close moutpiece I can reach quietly without armonics note but the triads are hard to do in velocity... I use different reeds, now I'm using marca vintage reeds measure 3 and I'm feel very good and I do particularly sound , dark note how I like and the upper register is good. Can you suggest some kind of exercise or things to do better a altissimo register?

Mine clarinet is grenadilla patricola cl.2 virtuoso (2015), a very good clarinet, very power full, amazing! I would like to buy a selmer like centered tone or serie 9 or 10, especially full boehm



Post Edited (2015-10-19 19:14)

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 Re: Altissimo notes trouble
Author: Mirko996 
Date:   2015-10-20 16:30

Hello?

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 Re: Altissimo notes trouble
Author: Ken Shaw 2017
Date:   2015-10-20 17:15

Mirko996 -

G6 [G6] is a note that every intermediate clarinetist can play. The standard fingering is not quite in tune and does not match the adjacent notes in tone color, but it's absolutely reliable. Any fingering book will have a dozen alternatives, but if you aren't reliable on the standard one, something is wrong.

E6 [E6] and A6 [A6] are different harmonics of the same fingering. The fact that you can't control which one comes out suggests that you are voicing them wrong, which in turn suggests that your problem with G6 is also one with voicing.

Either problem can be caused if the adjusting screw on the throat Ab key is too tight, opening the Ab key slightly. Try that adjustment first, and have an expert repair tech check the pads on the top joint.

Also a crack or even a tiny leak through the grain on the barrel can cause the problems you have. Try a different barrel, or even a different clarinet.

It will help to take a few lessons from an expert player, who can spot problems quickly.

Ken Shaw

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 Re: Altissimo notes trouble
Author: Jeroen 
Date:   2015-10-20 17:22

Hi Mirko,

It is not easy to give useful advice without hearing you play.
Based on what I read I could imagine you are biting too much.
For the top altissimo notes it is alsmost enevitable to bite a bit but you must realize that this is not a comfortable situation and it is certainly not good for your embouchure.

So be careful with your embouchure:
Do not practice the altissimo notes too long a time. Take a break after a few minutes or go practicing in the lower registers. Then again and again.

P.S. I have a Selmer 9 full boehm for sale ;-)

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 Re: Altissimo notes trouble
Author: kdk 
Date:   2015-10-20 18:15

One question related to language - when you write "So I tried other position but nothing," I'm not sure what you mean by "position" and when you say "nothing" is the result, I'm not sure what isn't happening. Do you mean you've tried different fingerings without improving anything? Different embouchure, different clarinet angle (more horizontal, more vertical)?

The reason you didn't get an immediate response to your post is probably that there are just too many possible causes of your problems and, as a result, too many possible solutions. If you try all of them, you'll end up more frustrated than you now are with, very likely, no improvement in the result. It could be "voicing," but I have students who can play E6 and G6 reliably without any attention to "voicing" techniques. It could be pad leaks. It could be a badly adjusted throat G#/Ab key. It could be related to how much reed you take into your mouth, how much lower lip you take in, whether your reeds are well-enough balanced and of the right strength. You may just be trying too hard and tightening something in your face or your hands that should be more flexible. I could probably come up with more, but you may by now have the idea.

A recorded clip attached to a post here might narrow the problem down a little, but your absolutely best chance at finding a cause and a solution to your altissimo problems is to find a good local player who can see you and hear you and evaluate your instrument, mouthpiece and reeds and hopefully suggest a solution that will work for the specific cause. Trying a half dozen or more suggestions from folks here who are only guessing based on your description can as likely lead to confusion and frustration as it can to improvement.

Karl

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 Re: Altissimo notes trouble
Author: fskelley 
Date:   2015-10-20 18:24

Ken- I have often wondered which fingerings of which notes belonged to the same harmonic series. It makes sense to me that transitions between notes in the same series will be easier and more reliable than between unrelated notes. The fingering charts I've seen do not include such info- and with so many fingerings of these super high notes I guess it would be tough to organize it. Is there a source for this? Thanks!

Stan in Orlando

EWI 4000S with modifications

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 Re: Altissimo notes trouble
Author: Mirko996 
Date:   2015-10-20 19:19

My clarinet isn't cracked or something, It has few months ;), but i think patricola is bit hard to do altissimo notes because patricola is thinked to classical player and is very frustating... since the first time i play that... i had fatique because i wasn't used to play professional clarinet... with the time i managed to play very well...

However yesterday i tried Mitchel Lurie 2.5 streght and i managed to reach G6 without armonics but the notes are not in tune... when i reach A6-B6 are very not in tune... (To have an idea, is like a cat, very frustating, whatever i will a audio while i play with mitchel... )

Now i play with Marca Reeds Vintage and are better...

The first is marca vintage 3 streght, and i prefer this sound, but the shame is when i try to reach C7, is the sound i want

http://picosong.com/6FXb/

The second is mitchel lurie, and how i said, the sound is plesant...

http://picosong.com/6FXA/

However i know are hard notes and yes, you can reach but sometime isn't essential.

Towards the beginning of november I will start the conservatory (jazz course) and there will be one that will help me... i Hope... Is jazzist who playied with Eddie Daniels and other internationaly jazzist... Giulio Visibelli

I think i will try to adjust the Ab/G# key... it could be helpful

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 Re: Altissimo notes trouble
Author: Mirko996 
Date:   2015-10-20 19:26

I try to adjust the ab/g# and tighten a little bit, the sound is improved slightly, but very slightly, the trouble remain... uff is frustating




Probably, one the major trouble is that:

http://picosong.com/6FE8

In some case, when i try to do G6 or staccato (just to try) i do him armonics i.e. B6


(in the audio i mistaken and i wrote g7 b7, is g6 b6)

The position i commonly use is the basic position or

o x o x x o
( RT -2-|12-G# )

i tried other position like that

x o o x x o
( RT 1--|12-G# )

but It not improved a lot



Post Edited (2015-10-20 23:30)

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