The Clarinet BBoard

The Clarinet BBoard The C4 standard

New Topic | Go to Top | Go to Topic | Search | Help/Rules | Smileys/Notes | Log In

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Vent A or Ab for clarion long pipe B

Author: fskelley
Date: 2014-03-20 06:29

I did a quick search here and did not find this subject, but of course I could have missed it. And I've forgotten whether I got this suggestion here on BBoard or somewhere else. It could have even been one of Tom Ridenour's videos.

Anyway, the idea is to open the A key in addition to the register key while playing long pipe clarion B. By experimentation I find the Ab is equally helpful and does not change the sound so much, so should be OK to add mid-note if B is proving difficult.

Most of the time I have no problem with long pipe B, and there's no benefit to the extra vent either in sound or feel. But there are times it does help. I have organized my future concert pieces such that the very first song ("He Never Sleeps" - see my YouTube fskelley page) starts fairly slowly with [D4]

[D4]

[E4]

[G4]

, then a sustained and heavily expressed [B4]

[B4]

. And because those are my first 4 notes (maybe a while since I warmed up, or might not have gotten much chance, reed could have dried out even though capped, etc), and I may be in front of an unfamiliar audience and have max jitters (until I get some playing done LOL), the B might not cooperate immediately. And the extra vent looks to be some wonderful insurance.

So- did one of you give me this idea and I just forgot? Is it common practice? ...or voodoo?

Stan in Orlando

EWI 4000S with modifications

Post Edited (2014-03-20 02:36)

Reply To Message

Re: Vent A or Ab for clarion long pipe B

Author: gsurosey
Date: 2014-03-20 03:45

I've tried opening the A key to lower the pitch of the long B (like if I'm playing the 3rd in a chord), but I found that it lowered it too much on my R13.

----------
Rachel

Clarinet Stash:
Bb/A: Buffet R13
Eb: Bundy
Bass: Royal Global Max

Reply To Message

Re: Vent A or Ab for clarion long pipe B

Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2014-03-20 11:30

Opening the Ab LH side key is very useful to obtaining a pp or even a ppp attack on the 'long' B natural. This doesn't work for the next note up (C) however. The A key has a similar effect on the 'long' B but the Ab key is easier to use.

BJV
"The clarinet is not a horn"

Reply To Message

Re: Vent A or Ab for clarion long pipe B

Author: rmk54
Date: 2014-03-20 16:14

Opening the A key will raise the pitch rather than lowering it.

Reply To Message

Re: Vent A or Ab for clarion long pipe B

Author: gsurosey
Date: 2014-03-20 14:49

Really? Hmm, there must've been some other modification to the fingering other than adding the A key that I don't remember. Now I must ask my teacher because it's bugging me.

----------
Rachel

Clarinet Stash:
Bb/A: Buffet R13
Eb: Bundy
Bass: Royal Global Max

Reply To Message

Re: Vent A or Ab for clarion long pipe B

Author: fskelley
Date: 2014-03-20 19:06

"Trouble" for me on long pipe B is what I would call "choking". It's as though the tip of the reed just shuts and doesn't allow any air through. For a long time I thought this was an indication my filing and sanding had gotten the reed too soft, and it was time to trim. By experimentation with my ATG finishing system, I learned it was more likely yet another symptom of reed imbalance. Usually I can cure it by more adjusting, making the reed even less resistant.

So when B suddenly causes me trouble, I generally assume balance has shifted for the worse. But knowing that doesn't help in the heat of battle. Nice to have a trick that might get me through a tough spot.

Stan in Orlando

EWI 4000S with modifications

Post Edited (2014-03-20 15:15)

Reply To Message

Re: Vent A or Ab for clarion long pipe B

Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2014-03-21 00:23

Opening the Ab while playing long B improves the sound quality dramatically on a couple of my clarinets.

Bob Phillips

Reply To Message

Re: Vent A or Ab for clarion long pipe B

Author: Simon Aldrich
Date: 2014-03-22 18:59

Opening throat A/Ab for the long B is standard practice.
Aside from helping ppp attacks on a long B, opening throat A on the long B helps double-tongue that note.
In the opera we are currently doing, there are some fast, trumpet-call-like figures that need to be double-tongued and they start on long B. Opening throat A definitely helps in that case.

Another option to help produce long B and C in ppp is to finger them differently.
Many clarinets produce an in-tune B by fingering throat Bb and adding the second-to-top right trill key (in soft dynamics).
If you add the top trill key to that, you can get an in tune C.
I use these fingerings not only to help in ppp attacks but also because they produce a different, sometimes more appropriate for the situation, tone color. In sustained chords in the woodwinds, sometimes a trill-key B or C has a better sonic fit with the ppp winds than the long fingering.

Reply To Message

Re: Vent A or Ab for clarion long pipe B

Author: William
Date: 2014-03-23 01:56

Another vote for opening the A/Ab keys for a better sounding "long" B with improved response. Especially a ppp note.....works, give it a try.

Reply To Message

Avail. Forums | Threaded View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Sheet Music Plus Featured Sale

The Clarinet Pages

For Sale
Put your ads for items you'd like to sell here. Free! Please, no more than two at a time - ads removed after two weeks.