 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: birdpond
Date: 2016-12-07 04:43
Hi, adult newbie here just learning (on my own).
Practicing to YouTube vids on crossing break to upper register. Curious - This is tough for me, although eventually I can sometimes get it. But then I noticed something perplexing. I don't think that once I hear the upper register come in that it should keep going even after I release the register key? I have even rested the clarinet on a chair while I play the low c, then press the register key with my other hand just to be sure I'm not moving anything at all on the left hand - But still, the high note seems to get stuck after I let the key go! I can play other high notes, but it doesn't drop down to the low c when I release that key. I have removed and reset the reed but it still happens.
I have checked all my fingers and my embouchure. All the keys seem in working order (I can press the register key by itself and it opens and closes fine and will change the tone on a totally open instrument.) I know I am making plenty of mistakes, but - Why on Earth would the clarinet stay stuck in the upper register? Sometimes, after a little while, the high note will kind of pull loose and lower, like a pancake flung onto a wall that eventually peels off, lol. Do you have to change your mouth to regain the lower register?
If not, is the old reed (that came with the clarinet) maybe starting to wear out?
Is this a common beginner issue?
Thanks!
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Author: Burt
Date: 2016-12-07 07:43
What you are experiencing is completely normal. It's not necessary to press the register key to play in the clarion register; the key just makes it much easier by preventing the chalimeau register note from playing.
This has advantages and disadvantages. It's difficult to move rapidly back and forth between twelfths (such as low E and third line B), but it's possible to play a run up to at least as high as Eb above the staff without holding the register key down after C above the staff.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2016-12-07 07:55
Totally normal. And welcome!
If you try it with different notes, you'll notice that the higher the note, the easier it is to stay sustained when letting go of the register key. If you were to try this with all your fingers down except no pinky keys, you'd probably find it wants to jump back down a twelfth a lot sooner.
The register key also helps tuning of higher notes a little bit so please DO continue to use it when you want to hit that higher register. As Burt said, a disadvantage is if you wanted to quickly jump from a note in the upper register to the lower register. It's common to softly tongue the lower note pretty much EXACTLY when you release the register key to get it speak right away. But don't worry about that right now. For now, keep doing what you're doing, and enjoy playing the clarinet!
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-12-07 17:05
I get called from time to time about this from worried players who think there's something wrong with their clarinet. But it's a normal thing on clarinets where releasing the speaker key while playing an upper register note doesn't automatically drop a 12th without tongueing the lower note.
It's near impossible to slur down a 12th from the upper register to the lower register on clarinets. It's relatively easy to drop an 8ve slurred on flutes, oboes and saxes, but clarinets are a different beast. However, slurring up a 12th from the lower to upper registers is easy.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Steven Ocone
Date: 2016-12-07 17:21
I have a slightly different take. If it is easy for me to play the upper register without the register key, I look for leaks. Leaks may not be a problem, and you may be forcing the upper register to play as already mentioned.
Steve Ocone
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Author: pewd
Date: 2016-12-07 20:43
I'm in agreement with Steve - have it checked out at a shop.
And this is just gross: 'old reed (that came with the clarinet)'
Buy some new reeds.
A private teacher to get you started would be very helpful, otherwise you'll pick up a lot of bad habits trying to 'self teach'.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2016-12-07 21:46
There have been a number of threads over the years dealing with this. The most recent was at http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=445882&t=445882, where it was part of a question about biting, but there are several comments about trying to slur down the twelfth from clarion to chalumeau.
Touch the reed very lightly with your tongue without causing an actual perceptible silence between the two notes.
How old is the reed? Almost certainly it's time to replace it. If it came with the clarinet, it was probably too soft to begin with (#1-1/2?).
Karl
Post Edited (2016-12-08 01:34)
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Author: birdpond
Date: 2016-12-08 03:33
Thanks for your reply, Karl.
It's a VanDoren 3, at least it was, lol, but even though I blow it out and let it dry after playing it is probably getting too old. I've been practicing about 2-3 weeks with it and at first, yeah, it was getting pretty saturated. Now I mostly have that under control. Mostly.
Was wondering about the Legere reeds - Are they worth the price? Assuming they wear out too at some point but have a longer life - ? Pretty pricey but welcome feedback on them.
Thanks!
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Author: birdpond
Date: 2016-12-08 03:36
Sorry to gross you out, Paul. I was under the impression the reed was new when I bought the instrument. Well is if wasn't, too late now.
:- O
I agree it would be a good idea to have it checked out. Will start looking for a reputable place in the Atlanta0ish area. And a teacher.
:- )
Thank you!
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Author: birdpond
Date: 2016-12-08 03:38
Thank you, Burt. Still learning even those terms you used. Gee I've got a ways to go, lol.
:- )
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Author: birdpond
Date: 2016-12-08 03:43
Thank you, Chris. Really appreciate your observations. Will look up what 'slurring' is right now, lol (yeah, I'm pretty rank, lol)
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Author: birdpond
Date: 2016-12-08 03:44
Thanks Steve. I will def look for a shop to check it out. Just to be sure.
AND for an actual teacher, while I'm at it.
:- )
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2016-12-08 04:45
birdpond wrote:
> Was wondering about the Legere reeds - Are they worth the
> price? Assuming they wear out too at some point but have a
> longer life - ?
I've come to like the Signature European Legere a great deal. I don't personally care much for the other Legere designs. But you need to find the right strength - too hard is stuffy and difficult to make clear-sounding, and too soft tends toward flabbiness of both sound and pitch. If you don't have a fairly clear idea of what you want the reed to feel like and how you want to sound, you could do a lot of buying and sending back to Legere (they have an exchange policy, but you have to send an unsatisfactory reed to them directly). So I would think it better if you develop your control and tone concept a little more before you begin to explore Legere or any other synthetic.
I'm told by players who have used Legeres much longer than I have that they can last months, even as long as a year, rotated with a few others. The general advice I've gotten is that you can't get by with only one. They do seem to fatigue after an hour or so of playing (maybe a reaction to the heat of the player's breath) but come back after rest (or cooling off), so you need at least two to start with. I'm currently rotating 4 of them - two each practice session so they get a day's rest between uses. It seems to be working well, but I've only been using them for a couple of months.
Karl
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Author: birdpond
Date: 2016-12-08 04:57
Thank you so much for the detailed reply. I'll take your advice and wait until I know what I'm doing, and what I'm looking for, before investing in synth reeds (sound advice for a beginner like me).
Much appreciated!
Cathy
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-12-09 04:10
'Slurring' is when you play two or more notes without tongueing them all - just the first note. Just like singing two or more different pitches under the one syllable.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-12-09 04:37
Think La-aa-aah instead of La, la, la.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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