 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Klar1netteF
Date: 2026-02-14 00:08
Hi! I am a student (soprano)clarinetist, but I have an alto that I sometimes play around with. What I noticed was that the upper register sounds a bit weird and is difficult to articulate unless I take much more mouthpiece than comfortable, but even then, it is still odd (for me). Could this be an embouchure/core issue? Or should I check my equipment?
On my Bb, I use a 3 1/2 vandoren with a M15 13 mouthpiece, but on the alto, I use a mouthpiece that I can not identify with some Rico 3's. (I haven't gone through with a reed upgrade.
Thank you!
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2026-02-14 23:20
I'm sure the Rico reeds aren't helping! I use VanDoren Java #3 alto sax reeds on my Buffet Prestige alto and a Grabner alto mouthpiece and Silverstein alto sax ligature. Gives a very nice sound.
Eefer guy
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Author: NOLA Ken
Date: 2026-02-15 21:01
Having gone down the alto clarinet rabbit hole for awhile now myself, I found that for an occasional player like myself synthetic alto (or even tenor) sax reeds are a really good choice. After going thru a fistful of mouthpieces I found that the Grabner alto cl. mouthpiece works the best for me also. I get really nice "upper" (clarion and altissimo) notes. I find that for me the Vandoren B44 and BD5 worked almost but not quite as well as the Grabner mpc. But I had to go down a very long trial-and-error period to come up with something that works and found that I had to get my Leblanc alto in really good adjustment to get it to play well. It can be frustrating and resource-intensive.
If you do a search on this web site you will find a lot of discussion about the alto clarinet.
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Author: super20dan
Date: 2026-02-18 19:13
vandoren b44 is what i recommend as well with out going to a boutique brand
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Author: Bog_Roll
Date: 2026-02-19 15:15
Good on the OP for taking up the alto clarinet. It's a fantastic instrument, with a bigger sound than a Bb clarinet, while being more lyrical than a bass clarinet.
You do have to take in more mouthpiece on the big clarinets, and adopt a more "saxophonic" approach.
But I sympathise, having gone through similar issues; there just seems to be certain partial incompatibilities between certain makes of alto, and certain mpcs.
I recently found a fantastic, vintage Babbitt mpc, that played wonderfully with traditional AC reeds -- Rico 3s (really!), on my Kohlert. Rich chalumeau, easy and full sounding altissimo.
But, couldn't articulate in the upper clarion, G on the staff to C above. Squeaks and squawks, overblowing to the next harmonic and beyond.
Ran a light through the horn, couldn't really see anything wrong, but reseated one or two trill key pads for good measure, for not much improvement.
But other pieces play just fine.
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Author: super20dan
Date: 2026-02-19 18:51
totally agree you have to adopt a more saxophone playing style for alto clarinet. dont be afraid to try softer reeds on alto. you get more color in your tone. on a good instrument you should have no problem playing the entire range of the horn -all the way up to altisimo d and e. just like a bass clarinet your horn needs to be leak free.
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