 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Robert Small
Date: 2002-06-24 05:30
I recently came across some alternate fingerings for the first few notes of the altissimo register (D-F). Simply overblow the throat notes (G, Ab, A, and Bb). These fingerings produce strong and easy responding notes on my Selmer 37. Overblowing F# for C# and pinch Bb + the second RH trill key for F# also work well on my horn. It's like having the clarion register extended a flatted fifth. Do any other bass cl. players use these fingerings in place of the basic altissimo fingerings?
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Author: John Moses
Date: 2002-06-24 13:46
We use these altissimo fingerings all the time. They are more convenient, and often safer than the normal ones. Try adding the register key for better pitch on some of notes?
These fingerings are ones Joe Allard taught all his students 30 yrs. ago as "harmonics" of the bass clar., and there are lots more.
Good luck up high!
JJM
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Author: William
Date: 2002-06-24 15:30
Does a chart of these special "Joe" fingerings for bass clarinet exist somewhere? Some of us bassers (especially "newbe's" like me) might be interested.
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Author: William Hughes
Date: 2002-06-24 15:56
I will try these on my contra alto. Can you share any particular tips or techniques to "overblowing"?
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Author: John Moses
Date: 2002-06-24 16:16
Joe's long gone, sadly. No one I know has a chart from him.
Try: http://www.wfg.sneezy.org/index.html
It's an excellent source for alt. fingerings.
JJM
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Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2002-06-24 17:43
John, one question left unanswered--"Overblowing" is exactly what and how is it accomplished?
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Author: John Moses
Date: 2002-06-24 18:25
Bad word "overblowing", we never over-blow, we blow just the right amount necessary for the music. Joe said, "the blower is not the player."
It is a natural harmonic of the clarinet that you are feeling. To relax and allow your vocal system to function, produces an overtone, usually a 12th. This concept must be demonstrated by someone proficient with the overtone system, find a good Joe Allard student and take a few lessons. It will open your eyes and do a world of good for your playing.
Good luck,
JJM
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Author: Robert Small
Date: 2002-06-24 18:37
Someone can probably explain it better than me but overblowing is simply playing a harmonic of a fundamental pitch. In this case playing a twelth higher than the fundamental. This can be done by increasing lower lip tension and altering the direction of the air-stream. A normal embouchure can be used when moving to these notes from the clarion register. Start with a high clarion note, say maybe C, then remove the thumb plateau and the register key while maintaining the same embouchure and airstream. You should have a good altissimo D (a twelth up from open G). Add the throat Ab key and you have Eb. Add the throat A key and you have E. Add the register key and you have F. Add the second RH trill key and you have F#. These notes should pop out easily when moving to them from the clarion register. To hit one straight off or at a very soft dynamic (ppp) it's maybe better to use the basic fingerings.
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Author: Robert Small
Date: 2002-06-24 18:47
John's post went up just before I finished mine. I agree that overblow is a misleading word. And as I pointed out there is no need to adjust the embouchure when moving to the harmonic notes from the clarion register. But to straight off play the harmonic D, Eb, E, etc., of G, Ab, A, etc., can be a little dicey.
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Author: jez
Date: 2002-06-24 20:02
Overblowing could, indeed be a misleading term.
It doesn't have to be from the lowest register; you can 'overblow' from middle register notes too.
It's just a matter of fingering one note on the clarinet but developing the ability to make it produce another note.
I've discussed this idea before, but let me repeat myself.
One of my major practice-techniques is to play middle B (B4) and then to see what other notes can be produced without moving the fingers.
The notes available are:-
G5
C6
E6
G6
A6
D7
It's possible to play lots of stuff just using these notes (bugle calls) and working on doing that helps improve your control of the altissimo register enormously. If you can control which harmonic is going to come out while fingering the 'bell-note' then imagine how much easier it is to produce those notes while using a 'correct' fingering.
I don't play the bass much (I'm very bad at it) but those fingerings are very useful on soprano & piccolo clarinets too.(sometimes with the aid of the register-key)
I'm trying to persuade a friend of mine (who's in the process of making a clarinet) to make me a clarinet without any holes or keys so I can spectacularly demonstrate this possibility.
jez
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Author: Francesca
Date: 2002-06-24 20:31
Robert,
Lawrie Blume (sp?) uses the open altissimo fingerings almost exclusively. I prefer to use a healthy mix of the basic fingerings and the open ones. The challenge I find is starting a phrase on an open tone. If you're up for a challenge, try that. ;-)
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Author: Robert Small
Date: 2002-06-24 21:09
Francesca--as I mentioned above, starting a tone or phrase with a harmonic is a little dicey. In this situation it might be better to use a basic altissimo fingering.
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Author: Timothy Reichard
Date: 2002-06-25 05:14
I'd love to expand the low clarinet section of fingering charts in my site (http://www.wfg.woodwind.org/). Send any additions or corrections to wfg@woodwind.org.
Tim Reichard
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