 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Abracadabra
Date: 2010-01-29 02:20
This may seem like a trivial question but I'm wondering where I can find any books, web sites, CDs, or DVDs, that teach blues clarinet. Can I use saxophone music? There doesn't seem to be much specifically for the clarinet in the way of blues, or jazz.
Thanks in advance for any help.
About the only thing I found so far is a book on Amazon called:
"48 Razor-Sharp 12-Bar Blues Riffs for Swing Bands and Blues Bands: B Flat Instruments Edition (Red Dog Music Books Razor-Sharp Blues Series) (Plastic Comb)"
That's about all I could find.
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Author: ned
Date: 2010-01-29 04:42
Blues is folk music.
1/ Go and listen to some folk playing it live. Talk to them - absorb - go home and try to emulate.
2/ Listen closely to Johnny Dodds. He's the #1 blues clarinet player from the 20s through to the 40s. You'll find recordings of him at the following site: The Red Hot Jazz Archive http://www.redhotjazz.com/
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Author: samohan245
Date: 2010-01-29 20:30
the real Bb book.
a 300 page book with just jazz, blue, swing, and latin songs
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Author: Bill G
Date: 2010-01-29 22:16
Blues is not a collection of tunes. In fact, most blues and jazz musicians I know don't consider notation to be a distinguishing characterristic. At root its a genre with roots in vocal improvised sounds having more to do with primitive expression of life experience. It has evolved, and affected jazz, rock, and many forms of popular music, but in my mind its roots still have their effect. To me, blues is a window to the soul
For a good narrative discription of its origins, history, and characteristics such as common harmonic progressions I suggest you read the article in Wickipedia, but I doubt you'll get any help from any writing in learning the "meaning" of "blues", and certainly will get no help in learining to play it. You can't get there from there. You've got to listen a lot, feel it in your bones, and play it in ways personal to you but still within the genre.
There are many records to listen to, and many play-along records that may help. Good luck.
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Author: soybean
Date: 2010-01-30 08:14
Listen to the original Louis Armstrong records. They usually feature some great clarinet solos with lots of bends and vibrato, etc. For that matter, lots of recordings of original New Orleans jazz.
~Dan
(Leblanc Bliss, Buffet R13 key of A, Yamaha 250 Bb)
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Author: TPeterson
Date: 2010-01-30 13:31
Jamey Abersold has a number of excellent books designed for use with school jazz groups that give some good concrete exercises and methods for developing the skills you can use to then emulate the great artists.
Tim Peterson
Band Director & Clarinetist
Ionia, MI
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Author: brycon
Date: 2010-01-30 16:47
Blues and jazz are two different genres. Do you want to play the blues like Bessie Smith or Charlie Parker?
The best book I have come across for teaching the jazz idiom- articulation, swing feel, et cetera- is Jim Snidero's Jazz Conception.
BTW, The Real Book is notorious for mistakes- wrong notes, chord changes, and more than a few tunes in the wrong key. It's better to transcribe the tunes yourself from the recordings.
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Author: Abracadabra
Date: 2010-01-30 23:49
Thanks to everyone for the responses.
I've found a couple books on Amazon that I think will help:
one is called:
48 Razor-Sharp 12-Bar Blues Riffs for Swing Bands and Blues Bands: B Flat Instruments Edition (Red Dog Music Books Razor-Sharp Blues Series) (Plastic Comb) - by Larry McCabe
http://www.amazon.com/Razor-Sharp-12-Bar-Blues-Riffs-Swing/dp/1934777196/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_a
And the other one is called:
The Jazz Method for Clarinet (Tutor Book & CD) - by John O'Neill
http://www.amazon.com/Jazz-Method-Clarinet-Tutor-Book/dp/0946535213/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_a
I realize there is a difference between Jazz and Blues, but often times these genres overlap. I already have books and DVDs for piano, guitar, and fiddle blues. So I'm really just looking for some clarinet specific material to get me started on the clarinet.
I only just started with the clarinet last year. I'm also just learning from whatever information I can find on the web. I've gotten to the point where I can play decent notes, scales, and simple melodies, so now I'm just looking to spice things up a bit learning some decent riffs, licks, or whatever.
I'm just looking to play backyard folk music.
Anyway, I think these two books will get me started down that path.
Thanks.
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2010-01-31 15:38
I agree with Bill G. I think the best way to learn to play the blues is to listen to a lot of great blues musicians until you can feel what they are doing and then emulate them. (Probably wouldn't hurt to go out and get your heart broken a couple of times, too. )
The most important "theory" is the blues scale and standard blues chord progressions. You can find those here:
http://www.music.vt.edu/musicdictionary/appendix/blues/Bluesprogression.html
with midi versions to listen to.
Play along with the midi versions of the examples. With the progressions, start by finding the root notes on your clarinet, then expand to create simple melodies and riffs that fit.
Buy a B. B. King album and play along until you feel like part of the band.
If you want more, Google "blues chord progressions" without the quotes.
Best regards,
jnk
Post Edited (2010-01-31 15:40)
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2010-01-31 15:58
If you are colourblind, like me, then becareful or you'll accidently play Purples Clarinet
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Author: Abracadabra
Date: 2010-01-31 22:11
Just for the record I'd like to clarify a couple things.
FIrst. I'm not asking about blues music in general. I already plays blues guitar, blues bass guitar, and blues piano. So I'm familar with playing the blues in general.
My concern here was for materials that are taylored specifically for clarinet. For example, I have no problem finding blues instructional books for guitar, bass, and piano. There's tons of them available and I have to narrow down my choices of which ones to buy. I have even recently purchased a DVD on blues violin which I also play.
So I'm not seeking information on blues music in general.
The reason I wanted blues for clarinet is because each instrument has it's own nuances. There are licks that work better on a guitar, a bass, a piano, or a violin. I imagine that a clarinet also has it's own special licks or riffs that are best suited to the layout of how notes are fingered on that instrument.
So this is what I am seeking. Clarinet-specific blues licks and riffs.
I think the two books I mentioned in my previous post might provide me with what I'm seeking. Although, the "Jazz for Clarinet" was also written for trumpet and then converted over to clarinet so I'm convinced that this book will address the specific nuances of a clarinet. The other book, "48 Blues Riffs for Bb instruments" also sound generic.
What I was really hoping for was to find a book (or DVD) specifically for the clarinet. Someone standing there with a clarinet in their hand saying, "I'll show you how to play blues on this specific instrument".
On the bright side of things, at least I know that after I learn how to play blues on the clarinet I can make an instructional video of it an I'll be the only one out there with a DVD on Blues Clarinet. ;o)
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Author: ned
Date: 2010-01-31 23:23
''My concern here was for materials that are taylored specifically for clarinet. For example, I have no problem finding blues instructional books for guitar, bass, and piano.''
Unfortunately, I don't think such a thing exists for clarinet.
I'm unsure of which musical era to which you subscribe, but if it's from the ''classic'' period of the 20s forward, I'd take a good listen to Johnny Dodds as per my earlier post.
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Author: David Niethamer
Date: 2010-01-31 23:30
listen to Sidney Bechet. Start with "Blue Horizon." Johnny Dodds is good, too.
David
niethamer@aol.com
http://members.aol.com/dbnclar1/index.html
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Author: tdinap
Date: 2010-02-01 15:46
I would argue that in blues or jazz, it doesn't matter *that* much what instrument the instruction is geared towards (as long as it's the same family; horn players learn somewhat differently from rhythm section players, etc). A good lick is almost always a good lick. You find out which ones work best for you on your own instrument by knowing your instrument well and by lots of trial and error. It's hard to make a mass-market book or dvd like that because a lot of what you're looking for is very personal; what works easily for me on clarinet might not work for you, and vice versa. As a clarinetist, you can get a very long way learning to play blues from a sax or brass player.
That said, there are subtle differences between the instruments that one should try to take advantage of when possible. I find that listening and copying solos is most helpful for that. I recently heard Don Byron's New Gospel Quintet, and they were fantastic. If you can find a way to hear them, it might be helpful--Don does some unbelievable (and very bluesy) clarinet playing with them.
Tom
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Author: T Webb
Date: 2010-08-30 01:07
Here is something that might be helpful. It is written for sax, but has a lot of good info relative to blues and R&B.
"Progressive Rock Saxophone Method" by Peter Gelling. Available on Amazon
The book has a play-along CD with Eb and Bb parts. Discussion of blues scale, arpeggios, rhythm, some very good foundation material.
I think the method covers R&B as much as rock, definitely not 'jazz'.
Good luck!
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Author: kilo
Date: 2010-08-30 11:48
Don't neglect phrasing. I recommend the Charlie Parker Omnibook — the Bb book is great for clarinet players because the range of the instrument will allow you to play all the alto transcriptions.
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Author: MarlboroughMan
Date: 2010-08-30 12:10
I pretty much agree with your caveat on the Real Book, brycon, but wanted to add a "caveat on the caveat". The newer (and legal) edition of the book seems to be much better than the old one---as a kid I had the edition with 'Blue Train' in the wrong key--and even though it has its flaws, the problem is that for gigging it really is a standard text.
I remember getting fed up with the innacuracies in the Real Book about fifteen years back, and going from my own transcriptions as a rule, but then playing a gig where everyone had memorized the Real Book version. It didn't help for me to say "but that's not as accurate as mine": to them and the audience, I was the one playing the "wrong notes". Since then I've made it a policy to know the Real Book versions as well as transcriptions, just in case I'm on a gig that demands it.
******************************
The Jazz Clarinet
http://thejazzclarinet.blogspot.com/
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Author: MarlboroughMan
Date: 2010-08-30 12:12
(If you're the same Tim Peterson who went to Butler at the time I did---late '90s) all I can say is Go Bulldogs, and it's nice to see you're out there. If you're not, well, my apologies, but Go Bulldogs anyway!
******************************
The Jazz Clarinet
http://thejazzclarinet.blogspot.com/
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Author: Phurster
Date: 2010-08-31 13:32
Eric,
Do you play Wurlitzer Clarinets on your Jazz gigs? If you do what sort of reaction do you get?
Back to the original question:
The Jamie Aebersold books "Nothin' but the Blues" and the "II V7 I progressions" are a good place to start. One slight criticism is that the tempos and number of chord changes are a bit quick for most students.
A good idea would be to learn a C blues, memorize the scale and then experiment for 5 min, trying to incorporate as many jazz cliches as possible ie; growls. bends, moving of flat notes upwards etc.. Then this over the C blues changes in the Aebersold. Next step try F, then G.
As many have pointed out it's very important to hear the experts to put in your head all the subtleties.
Shamelessly memorize transcriptions and patterns.
Google away...there is a ton of information out there.
Good luck,
Chris.
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Author: MarlboroughMan
Date: 2010-08-31 14:07
Chris,
Back when I played jazz gigs on clarinet (and we're going back to before the last decade, where I had to lay off because of a heart condition), I played a Selmer 10S. My Fritz was still in unplayable condition at the time. Now that I've had them refurbished, I actually think they'd work really well on a jazz gig, with maybe a 3WZ mouthpiece. The sound is retro-NOLA that way, and you can get sounds like the old Albert-system players.
I'm in the process of working up my tenor and soprano sax chops right now, which has been taking up most of my jazz focused energy. (For the record, a Selmer Ref 54 tenor and a Yamaha YSS-675--both a pleasure to play).
******************************
The Jazz Clarinet
http://thejazzclarinet.blogspot.com/
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2010-09-01 02:00
The most efficient use of your time is the direct approach: find a teacher, and pop for a couple of lessons. Stores that specialize in guitar lessons will probably be glad to help. A good teacher will hopefully be able to recommend some simple books that will act more as life rings, as opposed to lead weights.
A trumpet-playing friend in his 50's with no prior blues experience got a couple of wedding gigs in the horn section of a blues band several years ago. Mind you, he is a good player and a quick study. The band leader sat down with him a couple of times to explain structures, progressions, and which notes of the scale work and which don't. He was fine, aside from the fallout of playing at volume for 4 hours.
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Author: DougR
Date: 2010-09-01 02:54
Hey James--
Are you talking about blues as in Cannonball Adderley, or blues as in Eric Clapton, B. B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Albert King, etc.?? Now THAT's an interesting concept using clarinet for electric blues that way! I don't believe I've EVER heard a clarinet played in that sort of blues/rock idiom, but I have an idea I'd like it.
Off the top of my head, closest thing to it I ever heard would have been Mike Brecker playing his EWI, which he loved to make scream like an electric guitar, and he could play blues licks for days.
I think some of Stevie Ray Vaughn's transcribed solos would be playable on clarinet (the range would be about right, although you'd have to be comfortable in sharp keys).
That may be totally NOT what you're talking about, but it would be an interesting experiment anyway. Occasionally as a humbling exercise, I try playing some of James Jamerson's Motown bass lines on bass clarinet. Great for developing time, funk rhythm reading ability, and sharp keys. (And humility. The guy was a genius.)
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Author: mdineen
Date: 2010-09-03 19:51
I just discovered on the web a Ph.D. thesis "THE SOLO STYLE OF JAZZ CLARINETIST JOHNNY DODDS: 1923 – 1938", submitted by Patricia A. Martin to Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College for the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts in The School of Music.
The Appendices contain concert pitch and transposed transcriptions of Johnny Dodds solos in:
“Canal Street Blues”
“Wild Man Blues”
“Weary Blues”
“Wolverine Blues”
“Too Tight”
“Melancholy”
The link is: http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-0118103-203326/unrestricted/Martin_dis.pdf.
Good luck!
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Author: Tony M
Date: 2010-11-18 09:11
This thread is quite old but I might have something helpful.
I was in the same position as you, that is looking for a book that related clarinet to blues. And like you I was coming from experience with blues guitar, bass and piano (I'm no good but I can fill out a band). And the problem remains that post war blues developed without clarinet, or at least the clarinet players were all playing sax by then.
The John O'Neill book you probably know by now. It is very good, I think. It is not so much a generic book as one translated across instruments and I suspect that it might have been written for clarinet in the first place - although I don't know if that is true. O'Neill is a clarinet player so it might be more of a problem if you were to get the trumpet version. But it does begin at the beginning and the second volume is quite advanced, I think.
The book I like is Dennis Taylor's 'Blues Saxophone' (Hal Leonard). It isn't a clarinet book but it is a book of Bb transcriptions. It covers the styles of Eddie Shaw, A.C. Reed, Maxwell Davis, Bobby Forte, Lee Allen, Noble 'Thin Man' Watts, King Curtis, Red Prysock, Illinois Jacquet, Lester Young, Gene Ammons, Jimmy Forrest, Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis, Willis Jackson, Stanley Turrentine, Sonny Stitt and Sonny Rollins. So, as you can see, it is sort of centre on 40s and 50s RnB reaching out to Chicago Blues on the one hand and bop on the other. It has a cd to play with the transcriptions. It's the closest thing that I have found to what I hear, in my head, as blues clarinet.
I think the combination of this and the John O'Neill books is a pretty good intro to what blues on the clarinet might be.
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Author: Noverbuf
Date: 2010-11-18 12:23
At first I also tried to find some specifc books/method on blues clarinet but later I realized that what they say for blues guitar: 'It's all about feeling' is applicable to any other lead instrument chosen for blues soloing. You've got the basic blues concept so you simply need to get good on the clarinet and transfer those guitar (or any other instrument) licks to your instrument of choice.
It's probably best to figure out yourself what fingerings will work and what to avoid if you are not comfortable with some.
I think clarinet is versatile enough an instrument to compete with the lead qualities of the electric guitar on clean channel.
I know there are people who play "blues balalaika"
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Author: Tony M
Date: 2010-11-18 20:11
The thing about 'blues feeling' is that it has to be transmitted through an instrument and that, I find, is where what I know on guitar doesn't translate so readily to clarinet. Apart from the difference of playing parts (and I know not all people think in this way), I find the percussive question is a big difference for me. I find playing rhythms (and a lot of timing issues) on a string instrument to be very different from a wind instrument and so I felt I needed help. That's where the O'Neill and the Taylor books come in.
Each to his own, of course, but I don't think blues clichés are automatically translatable from instrument to instrument. That doesn't deny the idea of feeling but feeling, a lot of the time, is just heightened sensitivity to timing.
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