 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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Author: Bog_Roll
Date: 2026-02-20 12:40
super20dan wrote:
> your horn needs to be leak free.
Thanks for your comments. There was indeed a leak, but it didn't show up when checking pads one by one.
OP, if all pads are sealing perfectly when tested with a leak light, but clarion problems persist when playing, check the height of the register key touchpiece versus the thumb plateau. I solved my problems by adding a riser to the register key.
My register key sat too low, and too far away, so pressing it lessened just enough pressure on the thumb pad, to open the tiniest, tiniest leak.
Other mpcs could play on regardless, but not the above-mentioned Babbitt.
It seems mpcs designed for alto _clarinet_ reeds are more precise in their requirements.
Those designed for saxophone reeds are more tolerant of regulation problems, as evidenced by certain BIGMouthPiece videos. ![[grin]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie5.gif)
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Author: super20dan
Date: 2026-02-20 23:52
sometimes you need to use feeler gauge paper method vs the leak light esp if you have bladder pads on your alto
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