 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Tony M
Date: 2011-05-08 11:58
I am on something of a forced break in playing and practicing for a while and been enjoying the liberty to read and ruminate about the clarinet a bit more than I normally do. I have come up with a question that I cannot answer.
When students go to teachers and say something like 'I want to play clarinet but I'm more interested in pop music than classical', is it normal for them to be directed towards playing an A clarinet? That would seem to be a logical thing because of the ease of playing in the popular keys of C, G, D, A & E (concert).
I only own Bb clarinets and have never played any other but I'm beginning to wonder why not. I play with a guitarist friend who likes concert E because that sounds good on guitar. But I don't like concert E on my Bb, but I would be fine if I had an A instrument.
I know the logic of the answers available (just buy an A clarinet and use it) but I'm more interested in the experience and rationale of teachers. Do you normally encourage students to play both because I associate using both with symphonic or show band players. I look forward to hearing your replies.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-05-08 12:42
Most symphonic wind bands and pit arrangements are usually for Bb clarinet as the majority of players usually only have a Bb (although some pieces are better suited to A clarinets), but if you are playing in guitar-friendly keys (and who likes playing in 6 sharps on any woodwind instrument anyway?), then make life easy for yourself by getting an A clarinet.
If you plan on doing orchestral playing, then an A clarinet is a worthwhile investment and very often indispensible. At least if you have a set of Bb and A clarinets, you'll be prepared for any occasion.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: William
Date: 2011-05-08 15:26
I used to use my C clarinet during middle school strings classes for demonstrating "how this goes" (typical teen query). Never was very good at the violin, viola, cello or bass and the clarinet served as a guide for the strings players ears to follow. Yes, it even worked for the cello and bass parts. My point is that reading and playing (no pesky transposition needed) in those guitar keys is quite accessable with your C clarinet--and C clarinet can be a fun instrument, given enough chance. I now use mine mostly in orchestral settings but wish I had more opportunities to get it out of the case.
fwiw--mine is a Buffet E11 with a Chadash barrel, which I had shortened a bit by my local favorite repair shop in the Ward-Brodt Music Mall.
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Author: Tony M
Date: 2011-05-08 18:43
I can see that a C clarinet would work but that's still playing four sharps in E. I don't mind four sharps myself but I'm trying to think as a guitarist playing clarinet. When I played rhythm guitar in a practice band, the key signature was always between F and E on the circle of fifths. Always. That was a real stretch for the keyboard player but remember that these are autodidacts, not trained musicians. In that context, I can envisage a self-taught clarinetist using a Bb for concert F, C, G and an A for D, A, E.
I just wondered if a training regime had ever developed around using a Bb and an A pair to suit a circumstance like this.
An alternative to all of this is to just use an A for all of F to E. Playing concert F on an A would be less trouble than playing concert E on a Bb and it saves all the trouble of two clarinets on the bandstand. Then the question becomes 'Why not just an A clarinet for rock and roll?' Has anyone done that?
These are genuine questions. I tend to think in a jazz/standards context and Bb suits me fine but at times I think about interacting with the people that I did as a rhythm guitarist and the fit doesn't seem automatic.
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Author: William
Date: 2011-05-08 19:00
I have read that the A clarinet was quite popular among NO jazz musicians.
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Author: donald
Date: 2011-05-08 21:15
Over the years i have often used A clarinet to play on songs in "guitar keys". When doing improv (and making up accompaniment) in the keys of A and E the job is considerably simplified (playing in C instead of B and G instead of F#)
A true jazzer would consider this an indication of laziness and lack of ability on my part... but as improvised music is not the main focus of my music making i consider anything i can do to make the ride easier worth the scorn.
dn
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Author: Tony M
Date: 2011-05-08 21:53
William,
That is interesting. I hadn't heard that. I know that the Albert system was fairly standard down there but playing A clarinets is new to me. Did any of the famous guys, Bechet, Noone, Dodds, Bigard, Lewis, Tio, Simeon, etc. play A instruments?
Donald,
I agree with you about the all keys attitude of jazz pedagogy. The Buddy de Franco Hanon book frightens me. I don't mind an all keys approach to practice but I'm certainly more comfortable with certain keys when playing with others.
I think I have to look at buying an A instrument when I get back to playing. Is it important that the A instrument matches the Bb? I play a Yamaha YCL-62 and I don't fancy my chances of coming across an A version of that in a hurry.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2011-05-09 03:14
>> A true jazzer would consider this an indication of laziness and lack of ability on my part... <<
Maybe, but a true musician wouldn't, at least not in any meaningful way.
Post Edited (2011-05-09 07:06)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-05-09 08:30
I've often wished for a RH C-D trill key and LH Eb key on saxes!
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: clarinetwife
Date: 2011-05-09 14:04
How 'bout a D Alto sax? I'm just lucky that the saxophone player in my teen ensemble at church can play the many many songs in our repertoire that are in D or G. She's a senior, though, and leaving the state for college.
I have taken my A clarinet out to play a few Irish tunes once in awhile -- it is fun.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-05-09 15:23
Has to be said that it's a lot easier getting around in keys with loads of sharps and flats on saxes than it is on clarinet.
And oboe.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: davyd
Date: 2011-05-10 04:17
In the long-ago days when I sometimes played for folk dancing, I used both Bb and A clarinets depending on the keys of the tunes, though I was rarely able to explain convincingly why I needed two instruments.
I concur that a soprano or tenor sax in A or an alto or baritone sax in D would come in handy at times.
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