 The Fingering Forum
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Author: 62282
Date: 2002-12-31 21:37
OK. I started teaching myself the clarinet about 2 months ago. I just put it together, picked it up, and went from there. A couple days later I was showing my friend and we were both messing around on it, and we noticed that we held it different. I had my left hand in front, I guess it felt natural because I play guitar, left hand on the neck. So we looked at it and logically figured out I was definitely holding it backwards. So after the initial learning, I had to relearn. So that was pretty dumb. Then, about 3 days ago, I was watching footage of John Coltrane in concert, and noticed that the reed was on the bottom. I figured maybe it was different on the sax, but then saw a book about the clarinet and sure enough, it was on the bottom. No one told me that, and I have been playing for three months with it on my top lip. I tried to turn it over, and I hate it, it's not happening. I can't control it right and the note is so much quiter and has such a nasal tone. It feels so unnatural, I'm so used to controling the vibration with my top lip. So my question to more experienced players is, is this going to affect my technique negatively when I progress? I was reading a music encyclopedia about the history of the clarinet and apparently the reed originally was on the top, then after 100 years or something it was universally accepted that it should be underneath. I thought that was funny too. So should I unlearn this as soon as I can, while I'm still new to it, or will it not really matter? Thanks guys.
Mike
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Author: Theboy_2
Date: 2002-12-31 22:27
wow, i had know idea you could play a clarinet with the reed on the top! but yes, you should learn that you need the reed on the bottom. or it will come back and haunt you later.
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Author: Polar
Date: 2003-01-01 03:40
lol...you=future trendsetter
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Author: Benny B
Date: 2003-01-01 05:00
nah its k ul get used to it, i find the high notes come out easier with the reed on bottom. dont worry! GL
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Author: D-oboe
Date: 2003-01-01 16:37
eek. People tend to have stronger bottom lips, and also the way the sound is directed through the instrument usually tends to work better when it's on the bottom. I have no idea why you think you should play it with your left hand on top.it isn't even natural. Oh well.
D-oboe
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Author: 62282
Date: 2003-01-01 22:20
Yeah, I switched how I held it after a few days, I hold it correctly now. So, the bottom line: should I switch reed position or not? It would be cool to play both ways I guess.
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Author: Carolyn
Date: 2003-01-01 23:37
I'm not sure I understand what you mean by 'left hand on top'......when I play clarinet I hold the fingerings the same as i would hold a saxophone...is this wrong?
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Author: d-oboe
Date: 2003-01-02 03:44
no, that's right: left hand is always closest. 62282:definitely, switch the mouthpiece around. you want the reed on the bottom.
D-oboe
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Author: Benny B
Date: 2003-01-02 15:38
clarinet keyes are made for left hand on top, i wasnt comfortable with that when i started cause i am a righty but then i got so used to it. just like second nature now and change ur reed to bottom pronto!
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Author: Carolyn
Date: 2003-01-02 16:45
d-oboe says:
no, that's right: left hand is always closest.
WHEW! I was scared for a minute there. LOL
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Author: Gnomon
Date: 2003-01-02 21:43
You're wasting your time learning with the reed on top, since clarinets are designed to be played with the reed on the bottom. You should put your top teeth directly onto the top of the mouthpiece to give yourself more control. This is called single-lip embouchure and is generally recommended, although some people prefer double-lip embouchure, where both sets of teeth are covered by the lips.
You should also start every note by touching your tongue against the tip of the reed. If you're not doing this, you have developed a very bad habit which you must cure yourself of, otherwise you'll damage your throat.
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Author: sÖmeone
Date: 2003-01-05 12:30
you have no choice....
the single lip embouchure that gnomon said would definitely
be preferable......
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Author: 62282
Date: 2003-01-06 00:05
Thanks Gnomon, I have been using the reed the correctly since I posted the topic, I'm getting used to it real fast. As far as putting teeth on reed, I had no idea about that, and even less idea about tongue on tip of reed to start note. What kind of damage to my throat will be done otherwise? Thanks
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