The Clarinet BBoard

Re: High Notes C5 - C-6 Tips ?

Author: zhangray4  Date:   2017-09-13 04:43 BGBG, You're bringing back some old memories for me I was in your position 5 years ago. Thankfully I started playing the clarinet with a good embouchure (a double lip actually) and rarely ever had a biting problem. But we've all had to go through that period of getting the high notes to come out easily. You said you are using Rico reeds. Have you tried out other brands before? Why not try Vandoren if you've never tried them before? I'm also thinking it might be your reed strength. You said the notes are "stuffy" but I think you are trying to say that the sound doesn't resonate? That you need to use a lot of air and you get a wimpy, choked off sound? If that's the case, try not to bite so hard on the reed. Tighten up your facial muscles but don't clamp down on the reed. If that doesn't work. try increasing the reed strength maybe? But only after you've tried out Vandorens... Once you can hit those notes, try practicing them by playing long tones with crescendos and diminuendos. The hardest part is playing high notes soft, so that's what you should be practicing as much as possible! If you are in a band/orchestra, and your director is warming you guys up by playing long tones, try playing those high notes softly and blend with the group. I remember when I was in 6th grade and we were playing concert Bb scales long tones, I would try my best to play them in the higher octave but trying to not let my band director notice I was doing so. You know you're on the right track when you play those high notes while doing long tone warmups and the director doesn't complain about how awful they sound haha Once you can play it soft, there shouldn't be a major problem when you bump up to a forte dynamic. Unless you overblow and the sound spreads. But that's for another story. -- Ray Zhang

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Re: High Notes C5 - C-6 Tips ?

Author: fskelley  Date:   2017-09-13 16:29 C5 ... C6 ... per this board's convention. Click on "smileys/notes" at upper right. Stan in Orlando EWI 4000S with modifications Post Edited (2017-09-13 16:30)

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