 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: brahma
Date: 2008-12-28 16:31
Hi there.
I am having trouble getting some of the notes on my clarinet. I can get 'G' thru 'G' throat notes (I think thats what they're called - is this the "normal register"?) - these are the only notes my beginners tunes have needed up to now.
However, I now need to play "A" and I cant do it! I just cant get a noise!!
I was supposed to have my first lesson today but my teacher is ill - can anyone help? What am I doing wrong?
Many thanks,
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Author: wonhunk
Date: 2008-12-28 17:31
well, if you cna play the throat notes jsut fine you should not have trouble playing A, i think it might be problems with the clarinet, thats all i can think of.
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2008-12-28 18:05
I agree. If you can, take it to a music store and have the tech look it over for problems, or have an experienced clarinet player check it out.
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: Lynn
Date: 2008-12-28 18:22
Brahma,
I experienced something similar last Sunday night on a borrowed plastic horn that I was playing in an extremely cold (thirty-four degrees and 30 mph wind) outdoor volunteer band gig. When it's that cold it's only natural that any warm air blown into a cold clarinet will immediately condense and turn to excess water. I had that happen frequently, (multiple swabbings didn't seem to help much) and I found that I was unable to play 2nd space A or 3rd line Bb. I noticed the pad on the A key was soaked, and stuck to the tone hole when the key was raised. It served the same function as putting a cork into that tone hole, rendering the notes unplayable. I didn't worry about it too much considering the circumstances.....we only had to play for one hour and I simply transposed the stuff down an octave....but perhaps you should have a tech check the pad on your L1 A/Bb key to see if it's torn, swollen, or simply accumulating too much water to function correctly. This is something a good tech can do quickly and cheaply for you.
Best wishes,
Lynn
Austin, TX
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Author: brahma
Date: 2008-12-29 09:06
Have tried to play anything above the "G" and I just cant get it! I am playing a Vandoren 2 at the moment - could reed strength affect whether I can get a note? I'll try and find a music shop to take it to.
If you get squeaks and squarks and funny sounding notes, can this be due to air leaks? As I dont travel anywhere with my clarinet, I dont assemble and disassemble it so only applied grease to the cork joints when I assembled it for the first time. Could this cause air leaks? Should I apply the grease more frequently?
Underneath the clarinet there is the hole that I cover with my thumb, and also a key that I have to press with my thumb for some notes too. I cant get any notes from my clarinet when I press this key. Does this key have to be pressed on its own or at the same time as covering the thumb hole?
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Author: Lynn
Date: 2008-12-29 14:19
Brahma,
Find yourself a teacher. Your life will be better for having done so, to say nothing of your progress in learning to play the clarinet......correctly.
Lynn
Austin, TX
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Author: kdk
Date: 2008-12-29 15:51
Since your teacher had to cancel your first lesson, I assume (hope) he rescheduled it, so you'll sooner or later find out what's wrong from him.
I'm, not sure I completely understand what note you're having problems with - I think you mean that "throat G" (2nd line of the treble staff) plays easily but the A one note higher (2nd space) doesn't produce any sound at all.
If that's the note you're talking about, there's no instrument malfunction I can imagine that would make an A completely unplayable if G plays with no problem. At worst you'd get a distorted G or G-sharp - you'd get SOMEthing, but you say you can't get any sound. Is it possible you're trying to use the wrong fingering? To play A you push the key just above the left-hand first finger. Are you possibly trying to play A - the note above G (since it uses no fingers) - by going back to all fingers down and opening the register key? That would most likely result in no sound (or a squeak or two) if you weren't covering all the holes completely.
Just a thought.
Karl
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Author: Sambo 933
Date: 2008-12-29 18:08
it sounds like a problem w/ the instrument to me as well. Take it to a music store and ask a tech. to check it out.
As for the key above the thumb hole that is the register key.
A student should not attempt to play notes in the upper registers until his/her embouchure is well formed.
what has been said above is all to true. To learn to play clarinet correctly you need a good teacher.
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Author: Marie from New York
Date: 2008-12-29 22:35
I have also had beginning students who used a reed that was too soft and completely closed down for some notes. If you cannot get any sound at all on the 'A' it may be that you are biting down on your reed and completely closing it off preventing any sound. Try a new reed or possibly a harder strength.
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2008-12-29 23:52
"If you get squeaks and squarks and funny sounding notes, can this be due to air leaks? As I dont travel anywhere with my clarinet, I dont assemble and disassemble it so only applied grease to the cork joints when I assembled it for the first time. Could this cause air leaks? Should I apply the grease more frequently? "
I missed this before. You should swab out your clarinet as soon as you are finished, and return the instrument to its case immediately thereafter. It's not a good idea to leave an assembled clarinet sitting around waiting for disaster to strike. I doubt that the problem is due to air leaks. I assume you are taking your thumb of the thumb hole when you are trying to play the A.
I keep my corks greased regularly. I apply a tad every time I assemble the instrument. I only use the Doctor Slick cork grease from http://www.doctorsprod.com . It's far better for the cork than the standard tube grease.
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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