 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: BflatNH
Date: 2016-01-21 06:17
What is the usable altissimo of a contra alto (on bass I get to written C7)?
I had a wonderful Selmer for a while that was/is out of adjustment (especially the register vent mechanism) but having temporarily resolved those problems (correct register key active) and checked for leaks with a thin mylar strip, I can barely get the bottom 2 altissimo notes. Is there special fingering for a EEb (I notice no small hole on LH1 finger as on bass)? What keys/pads would you suspect?
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-01-21 13:37
Hold LH finger 1 down but also roll down onto the tab to uncover the small aperture in the fingerplate for the lower altissimo as you'd have to do on bass for some lower altissimo notes.
To be honest, do EEb contras really need to play right up in the stratosphere? Kinda defeats the name in a way, but in theory they should have the same range as a regular clarinet provided you use the special fingerings/ventings offered by the LH1 fingerplate to help certain notes up top.
At least Selmers have the aperture as Leblanc contras don't have that (so LH1 is either open fully or closed fully), so chances are some of the altissimo is much harder work.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: BflatNH
Date: 2016-01-21 16:21
No LH1 aperture on this Selmer. The altissimo comes in play when reading non-EEb parts.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-01-21 17:52
Sorry - early morning and my eyes didn't focus well.
If you haven't got the aperture in the LH1 fingerplate, try opening the throat G# key instead of lifting LH1 off (pretty much as an oboist would do for the upper part of the upper register).
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2016-01-22 01:39
For the altissimo notes on my Selmer Paris I use the throat keys plus octave key (or sometimes without octave key) and these give a rather good note that matches the upper notes pretty well. Use the G# and A keys and then add the upper two upper joint side keys to make the next few notes. You may have to add other keys to get things at the right pitch but I find these are pretty stable.
I can get C# and D by the traditional fingerings too although I prefer adding the two lower upper joint side keys in order to get C#. It's a less breathy note.
Eefer guy
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