 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ClearClarity
Date: 2017-02-19 17:23
Greetings fellow music peps.
Forgive me for asking this question and there is already an answer present in this wide and vast forum....
But I must ask:
What are the things I should keep in mind when switching from sax and to Clarinet?
I have been playing the alto sax and soprano sax for 5 years and the clarinet for only 6 months. The finger position and speed are one thing.... but what else?
And I wouldn't mine someone giving me a link to a topic similar to this
Thanks for the responses in advance.
Kamiko
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2017-02-19 23:32
The main thing is that. despite the similarities of the mouthpiece and reed, that the clarinet and sax are totally different instruments.
The embouchure for the sax is more relaxed and rounder. think more an O shape.
For the clarinet the embouchure is firmer and more of an oval shape.
The breath support needed is also different with the clarinet requireing a firmer airstream.
The clarinet is also played very much near the top of it's pitch whereas the sax is played more in the centre, with pitch flexibilty from the embouchure both upwards and downwards.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2017-02-20 04:59
I (and others) have experimented with the O embouchure on clarinet and I'm loving it. It plays well with a nice sound and good control for me.
Here's some clarinet and sax doubling tips from Victor Goines (clarinet and sax with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra) that I liked and have worked with.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzScPcqIfK0
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: ClearClarity
Date: 2017-02-20 15:58
Wow ok thanks for the tips. One more thing. What is the feel that you guys get when playing the clarinet in classical? When I try to apply the feel I get from playing sax ( which I play pop with a somewhat "classical" style), my instructor tells me its jazz. Any advices there?
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2017-02-20 19:55
Not sure. I don't play a lot of classical stuff. I guess if I had to try to think between sax and clarinet, and ponder on what I've heard of other clarinet/sax doublers at my band, I would say that when you play clarinet classically, it might help to focus more on being "smooth" and "blending". If you have an opportunity, I think playing duets, trios, or other small group stuff would be best for helping you figure out how to blend your clarinet sound. Chamber music works wonders for me as far as focusing on my sound, how I fit in, and exposing all those darned mistakes I make since I can't hide in a section of a wind ensemble.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: shmuelyosef
Date: 2017-02-24 02:18
I'm mostly a piano player. I played brass instruments in my youth...took up saxophone about 15 years ago when my kids started playing in bands. About 5 years ago, I started to learn the clarinet. I brought nothing but bad habits, and got frustrated...put the clarinets in a closet. About two years ago, I decided to give it a shot and confronted my bad habits from saxophone, took some lessons, used clarinet primer books, and have been progressing. While (as I indicated) saxophone playing did nothing good for learning the clarinet, I'm finding that clarinet playing is improving my saxophone playing with better air support, more attention to fingering options, etc...
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Author: GeorgeL ★2017
Date: 2017-02-24 06:06
ClearClarity
My perspective is probably different than that of 99% of the other posters on this forum, but if you are in that 1%, you may find it useful. Through high school, I had 8 years of sax lessons, 2 years of clarinet lessons, then took a 15 year break from playing after college. I have not had a music lesson since 1960. I have played both sax and clarinet in community bands since 1980. When better musicians (most of the people I play in bands with) make suggestions; I listen.
You know how to play sax, so play clarinet as much as possible. Last chair 3rd part is still in the group. To me, practice includes playing the clarinet in a group. Peer pressure will convince you to try to do it right. I found that within a couple of years the clarinet felt as comfortable as a sax. My fingers found the keys, and I found a mouthpiece and embouchure that worked for me.
Alexi's suggestion of small groups also worked for me. For several years, up to 6 clarinetists on one band (5 of them at my level; one a retired music teacher) got together once a week to socialize and play. We rotated parts so everyone got to play 1st and last parts. The 5 of us improved.
George Libman
Tucson
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Author: kilo
Date: 2017-02-24 22:37
Learn the alternate fingerings and when to use them. As a clarinet player who later learned to the sax, sliding around on those spatula keys seemed almost barbaric.
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Author: ClearClarity
Date: 2017-02-26 19:04
Wow thank you all for taking your time and answering this question
I'll put these info to good use and become better at both fields.
Thanks again!
ClearClarity
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Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2017-02-26 19:49
One other (broader) point:
I think one of the most difficult things when learning clarinet AFTER learning saxophone is to try to play the clarinet like it's a clarinet, and the saxophone like it's a saxophone. At least in jazz, it is usually pretty easy to tell which players are "native" saxophone players (though the opposite seems to rarely be true). The clarinet's role usually isn't just to serve as a saxophone with a more complicated fingering system! I'm not sure that I've explained this correctly, but hopefully there's something here. ;^)>>>
Best of luck as you continue your journey with the clarinet!!
Fuzzy
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Author: Matt74
Date: 2017-02-26 21:59
Work hard on your scales and arpeggios, where possible practice alternating left and right pinky keys (left B with right C, left C with right B). Also work on thinking in the first register by transposing something you've memorized down an octave, or doing sight reading. Learn all the trill keys and alternate fingerings. Work on the third register, especially scales up to F (don't worry if it sounds bad at first, the more you do it the better it will sound.)
The hardest part for me was mental. Even though I started clarinet shortly after saxophone as a kid, and always approached them differently, in my mind I was always a saxophonist. When I would think about playing, I thought of playing the saxophone. In the end I had to stop saxophone completely to make the full transition. I'm not suggesting you do that, but try to think about the clarinet as a clarinet player. Play clarinet in band.
- Matthew Simington
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