 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: IHL
Date: 2001-08-22 12:03
I'm having a little bit of trouble getting a good sound on the throat tones (G2-Bb2); they sound weaker than the other notes in the register. Is this a common problem? What can I do to get a better sound from these notes?
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Author: Jerry McD.
Date: 2001-08-22 13:17
This is a really common problem, especially on the Bb. As the tube gets shorter it becomes slightly easier to blow and I think subconsciously we have a tendency to relax. In other words we get 'lazy' with our embouchure and airstream. I would suggest playing some long tones on these notes and concentrate on these two areas, good air, keep firm. Also, experiment with tongue position and lip pressure (not bite). If this doesn't improve them enough you might need to start putting additional fingers down when you play these notes. Again, experiment while you play long tones. First try a few fingers on the right hand, and then try a combination of right and left hand fingers. The one thing to be careful here is that the sound will probably improve; however, as you add fingers you will be lowering the pitch. Compromise on the side of pitch....always. A beautiful sound on an out of tune note is not so beautiful! Good luck I hope this helps.
Jerry McD.
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Author: Benny
Date: 2001-08-22 13:58
Don't worry about it, it happens all the time. Here are some alternate fingerings that I use:
A - A key, C hole, D hole, sometimes low F key
Bb- A key, 2nd side key from the top, C hole, D hole, sometimes low F key
Also, you may want to clean out the throat tone holes. Good luck
Benny
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Author: Blake
Date: 2001-08-22 14:21
Another common problem because of moisture is the A and G# pads could be torn or worn causing some "fuzz". Sometimes a new mouthpiece helps clear it up as when I switched from a Vandoren B-45 to a Clark Fobes SF for my Eb sop. clarinet.. night and day on the fuzzieness through the throat.
Blake Velde
Arlington VA
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Author: mw
Date: 2001-08-22 17:04
As to the use of OTHER holes/keypads to cover/engage in combination with "regular" fingerings" for Throat tones, this is pretty much an individual thing, dependent to some extent upon you and your instrument. EXPERIMENTATION will find the BEST RESULT for you. mw
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Author: Keil
Date: 2001-08-22 19:22
Looks like a job for.... RESONANCE FINGERINGS!! YAY!!!! Benny has great fingerings... let me see if i can add...
Bb - finger throat Bb and add the following: LH 3rd finger RH 1st and 3rd finger and RH Eb/Ab key or LH 3rd finger RH 3rd and RH C/F key
A- finger throat A and add: LH 2nd and 3rd finger and RH 2nd and 3rd along with RH C/F key
Ab- finger throat Ab and add: LH 2nd and 3rd and RH 3rd along with C/F key or LH 3rd and RH 1st
G- play throat G and add RH 1st and 2nd finger
I hope that helps... believe me these fingerings aren't the only ones that work but they seem to work nicely on my Buffet R13...
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Author: mw
Date: 2001-08-22 19:59
Keil, that was the POINT of my post. Just because they work for _YOU_ does NOT mean they will work for someone else ... even if the same model of clarinet is involved. No 2 clarinets are EXACTLY the same, right? mw
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Author: Keil
Date: 2001-08-22 21:16
RIIIIGHT, mw... no one is disputing what you said i merely gave my 2 cents. I'm sensing some hostility on your part and i'll ask you kindly to check it at the browser! Thank You!
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Author: Keil
Date: 2001-08-22 21:18
in addition... i was merely giving IHL a place to start, it helps if he/she has something to work with, why put them through the torture of trying to find ones that work when i know some off the top of my head that'll be a GREAT place for him/her to start!?!
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Author: Keil
Date: 2001-08-22 21:30
Oh i forgot to mention for IHL make sure when using the resonance fingerings you have an "open throat". Basically, you want to try to give the note as much space within your oral cavity to resonate so that your throat will act as a sorta extension to the clarinet which will help add depth to your sound. Besides making the notes "resonate" the above mentioned fingerings also aid in transitions over the break. IMHO it's a win win situation. I find that i use resonant fingers as standard fingerings whenever i can. I'm sure someone is gonna dog my comment about it being a "win win situation" by saying... "well, it's not totally a win win situation because you compromise the tonal integrity and intonation of the note" to them I say refer to mw's post and find a fingering that doesn't "compromise the tonal integrity and intonation of the note"!! HEHEHEHE!! Love to ALL!!! <3
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Author: Ginny
Date: 2001-08-22 23:51
My teacher has me take a bit extra mouthpiece until it squeeks, then back off...
seems to find a better spot... which typically has a better overall tone any way. Also, support helps me, and if there's time alternate fingerings.
These do vary from clarinet to clarinet, but the general idea is the same regardless of what clears it up.
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Author: David Pegel
Date: 2001-08-24 02:54
I'm not gonna add in my alternate fingerings now!! Lol BUT I have found that the side-Bb trill key (Is THAT what it's most commonly used for? Bb trills?) can get a very nice sound with most people's alternate fingerings. I think it has something to do with how the air moves through the barrel for some people?
Also, I have heard that an alternate fingering for B natural is an A with the highest trill key, and a C is a Bb with both with the two highest trill keys. I tried these, and they work - except they sound like throat tones. Do these have ANY practical use whatsoever?
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Author: Keil
Date: 2001-08-24 03:16
Actually, the fingerings you've mentioned are used quite often as trills. The Bb fingering you've described also is used quite frequently because the placement of the hole is more accurate. Apparently what clarinet makers have had to do is compromise the placement of the hole that will give you the most resonant Bb. That Bb fingering is tonally better because of where the hole is located. The makers had to choose between a gorgeous sounding throat Bb or a gorgeous sound clarion and higher register. The clarion and higher register won out. LOL. Whenever you have a passage that will allow you to ustilize this most resonant Bb fingering you should, especially in sustained passages where throat Bb is held for a good while.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-08-24 11:20
David Pegel wrote:
>
> Also, I have heard that an alternate fingering for B natural is
> an A with the highest trill key, and a C is a Bb with both with
> the two highest trill keys. I tried these, and they work -
> except they sound like throat tones. Do these have ANY
> practical use whatsoever?
Yes, trills. That's what they were intended for and why these are called trill keys. Just try these trills using standard fingerings for the B and C. You will notice that it is awkward and limits the trill speed.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-08-24 11:46
i'm not sure if it has been mentioned, but G, G# & A will be 'fuzzy' if the pads don't open far enough. This often happens when a misguided 'repairer' puts inpads that stick out too far.
Bb. Much clearer if you get a cork pad that sticks out a long way and is shaped to a decapitated cone. (Pad opening will have to be adjusted to accommodate kby bending the key a little. No worries!)
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Author: George
Date: 2001-08-24 15:39
Try removing the register key and making sure the vent under it is completely clear of junk. Even a little crud (from the swab, maybe) will cause a fuzzy Bb.
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Author: mw
Date: 2001-08-24 18:23
Keil said:
"RIIIIGHT, mw... no one is disputing what you said i merely gave my 2 cents. I'm sensing some hostility on your part and i'll ask you kindly to check it at the browser! Thank You!"
-------------------------------
WRONG. No hostility whatsoever. No harm intended ... you weren't a "target"!
IMO, there is no point in giving people the resonance fingering that work for you with your particular clarinet & your particular setup. I suppose we could make up or envision a listing for every possible resonance fingering, but to what end.
Nothing works for everybody. EVERYBODY has to EXPERIMENT with RESONANCE FINGERINGS --- the result will be totaly dependent upon their choice of instrument, tonal cavity, & mouthpiece/reed/ligature setup. My resonance fingerings VARY greatly between my Bb & A Clarinets.
best,
mw
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Author: Keil
Date: 2001-08-25 04:26
Well, in that case what exactly is the purpose of this board? If theoretically one can come up with a solution to his/her problem through trial and error because as you have stated no 2 clarinets are the same, what exactly are we doing even giving advice? Basically in keeping with your theory this board is practically useless because each instrument varies therefore any suggestions we make can ultimately be answered with a simple "go and figure it out for yourself"! You must not have read my comment after the one you so graciously re-posted, I was merely giving IHL a launching point, fingerings that may prove helpful. True each instrument is it's own individual acoustical beast however allow me the pleasure of aiding this individual in their quest for more resonant throat tones. Don't take the joy i have in being helpful away because you feel my suggestions aren't helpful. I have read many of the posts you put up and i must say i have yet read one that hasn't infuriated me, not because of WHAT you say but HOW you say it. Don't be angry because i felt the need to take your "suggestion" of trial and error to the next level by offering the fingerings which have been proven to work on more than just MY clarinet. Oh and by the way... i didn't pick those fingerings up from some average joe clarinet player, i learned them at Tanglewood!
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Author: mw
Date: 2001-08-25 08:46
Keil, something else is surfacing here. No one is robbing you of your joy. Your post is RUN-ON. I think you have a problem with ME --- so stick to the issues. Opinions are fine. JUST LABEL THEM. (I hope the capitalized letters don't INFURIATE more-- get some tea!) mw
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Author: IHL
Date: 2001-08-25 09:20
Thanks everyone for your help! This site rules.
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Author: David Pegel
Date: 2001-08-25 15:41
Can't we all just get along??!! Lol.
Thanks for the info about those trill keys. I also found that these fingerings on the contralto work beautifully, even for throat tones, giving me slightly more options on where I place my break AS WELL as some good trills. (To quote something someone said some time before, it's only the weird things that work for contras. Besides, how often do contras need to trill?)
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Author: IHL
Date: 2001-08-28 00:17
I just thought I'd mention that I'm playing a 2nd hand Yamaha plastic clarinet (still in good condition as the original owner didn't use it for very long).
Also, what can I use to clean out the tiny register hole?
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Author: David Pegel
Date: 2001-08-28 02:22
They make some very fine brushes out there, don't worry. the hardest part is removing the register key.
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Author: IHL
Date: 2001-08-29 03:14
Alright, I've cleaned the register hole out. It should work now, thanks
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