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Re: range of clarinet

Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-05-25 10:51

The basic range of the clarinet is from low E to altissimo C which is 3.6 octaves, though a basset clarinet/horn and bass clarinet to low C has four complete octaves (low C to altissimo C).

On alto sax (and others), I've found that holding LH3 down with the octave key (8ve oox|ooo) will give altissimo Bb, and opening up the palm keys (as well as the RH high E and F# keys) in turn will extend the altissimo range up to altissimo Eb when all the palm keys and high F# key are opened). Provided you have a high F# key.

So, altissimo G is (all with the octave key open) - xox|Side Bb xoo (or on tenors and bari - xoo|High F#ooo)
Alt. G#/Ab - xox|Side C xoo,
A - oxx|xxx
Bb - oox|ooo
B - High D oox|ooo
C - High D & Eb oox|ooo
C# - High D & Eb oox| High E ooo
D - High D, Eb & F oox| High E ooo
D#/Eb - High D, Eb & F oox| High E & F# ooo.

Then with a different embouchure you can repeat the same fingerings and extend the range up even further following the same sequence. It works much better on tenor and bari though.

I forgot to mention why I keep LH 3 and the 8ve key on - this keeps only the lower octave vent open for the altissimo register.

I got this idea from oboe altissimo fingerings as only the lower octave key is open from altissimo E upwards, so if it works on oboes, then why not try it on saxes (which work pretty much the same way)? And it did!

Shame on saxes (with automatic octaves) you can't use harmonic fingerings (that make it overblow 12ths) for quiet passages as on oboes by opening the top octave only and playing D gives a good subdued A, Eb gives a good quiet Bb and E gives a B. But this can't be done on automatic oboes (as they have mainly in Germany and East Europe).

Try playing D (xxx|xxx but it'll sound the same as A - 8vexxo|ooo), Eb and E with the crook key wedged open for the 12ths.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.

Post Edited (2006-05-26 19:39)

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