 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Rhgsf
Date: 2025-09-14 12:20
Hi everyone, and thanks as always for all the great information here.
I’m having trouble getting a stable altissimo A (concert C) on my Eb clarinet. Everything works fine up to G♯.
Sometimes the A pops out accidentally, but I can’t get it reliably.
I’ve tried using the normal B♭ clarinet fingering (TRoxxoooF#) as well as the fingering suggested in P. Hadcock’s book (normal A fingering with the two RH side keys), but neither works for me.
How do you play this A in a stable way — for example, in passages like the one in Mahler Symphony No. 3?
For reference, here is my setup:
Buffet Prestige, BD5, Vandoren V12 3.0/3.5, Bonade ligature.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Hunter_100
Date: 2025-09-14 17:16
On my noblet it comes out better by also covering the first hole on left hand. TRXXXOOO. and if you have not tried the variants that don't cover the left thumb hole, you should experiment with those too.
For me, the breakthrough moment was when I could actually imagine the pitch in my head before playing it, which allowed me to actually get the note to pop out. If you have a device that can sound the pitch for you, I think it may help.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2025-09-14 20:53
It is a tricky note. On my Tosca Eefer the standard fingering, using the C# key to make E overblow to A, seems to work but on two prevous Eefers, this was less a normal occurence, including on R13 and Prestige models. Frequently it still tried to play as E.
On these other 2 Eefers, the "everybody open" worked the best. Octave, G# key and side Eb. Sometime I added the key just above the side Eb and RH sliver key plus the Eb key. It's a little scary up there!
Two years ago I played the US premiere on "Scent" for Eb clarine and used that fingering even on the Tosca for the one high A as it was a brief note and it was an easier transition to the next note. Also matched better in timbre with the other notes.
Hope that helps!
Eefer guy
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Rhgsf
Date: 2025-09-15 05:28
Hunter_100
Thank you so much for the great information! For me, using the fingering with the thumb off made the note a bit easier to produce.
I’ll also practice imagining the pitch in advance to improve the accuracy.
Ebclarinet1
I really appreciate hearing from someone as experienced as you. However, with that “open” fingering (RG#OOOEbOOO)I could only get an Eb (concert F#).
It’s probably just my lack of control — I’ll keep practicing and see if I can get it to work.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
