 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Chuck Kelly
Date: 1999-01-18 14:38
I'm having trouble as a new clarinetist with a band clarinet getting to sound b and c on the staff. Does it get easier when your lip develops and or with a higher quality clarinet? At times, especially after playing awhile when I sound the note it just does not sound. It is not "fingering".
Comments appreciated
Chuck Kelly
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Author: Frank D
Date: 1999-01-18 18:33
You might have some leaky pads. Does the low F (same fingering w/o ocatve key) sound when you play it? Try playing C on the staff, and have someone press the C pad closed. If the note pops out, then the pad is leaking.
Have your teacher or a repair person look at it.
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Author: Chuck Kelly
Date: 1999-01-18 19:58
Frank D Thanks for input. Clarinet is new (kohlert). I'm still trying to find out if my fingers are letting air in somewhere. Low if is fine. I use a chromatic tuner to verify.
Frank D wrote:
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You might have some leaky pads. Does the low F (same fingering w/o ocatve key) sound when you play it? Try playing C on the staff, and have someone press the C pad closed. If the note pops out, then the pad is leaking.
Have your teacher or a repair person look at it.
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Author: Jim Carabetta
Date: 1999-01-18 20:18
As long as you're sure it's not the pads, you may have a "lazy" spring or a mechanical problem with the articulation of the pads way down the lower joint. Finger the B or C, blow and have someone press down lightly on the closed pad; the tone may improve and then stay improved even when the pressure is removed. Generally, that signifies a small "catch" that the spring isn't able to overcome.
If all the mechanics are fine, for technical corrections, try practicing those notes in a mirror. Low E, F, and F# are very forgiving when it comes to leaking fingers, but mid-B, C, and C# are not as generous. Concentrate on feeling the tone hole with the ball of your finger, not on pressing the ring down; if you can feel the tone hole, the ring will take care of itself. Also, keep your right-hand fingers perpendicular to the body of the horn; newer players tend to let that right wrist sag a bit, causing leaks under the first two fingers, or inadvertently hitting the D# side-key -- it doesn't take much of a touch to let air escape out that key, which prevent those tough notes across "the break" (B, C, C#) from getting the airflow they need...and then there's always practice.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 1999-01-19 17:24
Chuck -
Try coming down to the notes from above. That is, play G on top of the staff and put down one finger at a time. Listen carefully to where the notes start getting unstable or stuffy.
If the problem is embouchure, then getting on the note by whatever method and playing long tones will teach your muscles to recognize how it feels.
However, if you can play the higher notes (say, E) easily, but still have trouble on B and C, you almost certainly have a leaky pad or misadjusted keys (even if the instrument is new). The B and C should not be more difficult than other notes. There are a number of possibilities, including a post that has changed position or a bent key. Any decent repair shop should be able to fix the problem quickly and easily.
Good luck.
Ken Shaw
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