 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Sheffna
Date: 2024-05-01 07:07
Hi! I'm having trouble playing B-6 and C-6 in the Upper Altissimo Register and I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on how to get there. Sometimes it helps for me going between different reeds that are dry. If you don't understand what register, this is what I mean: https://www.wfg.woodwind.org/clarinet/cl_alt_4.html
Player since 2017
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Author: Alexey
Date: 2024-05-01 14:37
My experience is:
1. Clarinet should be in a good state (no air leaks under the pads)
2. Reed should be neither too soft nor too hard.
3. Playing high altissimo is a matter of good technique rather than brutal force (too much biting or air pressure). That's why I like to work on high altissimo soft and gentle.
4. Playing high altissimo requires fine-tuning of lips and inside the mouth. So it's better to start without a tongue, just with breath ( too exaggerated tongue movement can break this fine-tuning)
5. Try all possible fingering as some of them are easier to play
So, now technique:
6. More mouthpiece in the mouth
7. Raise the soft palate, and bring the back of the tongue down (think of yawning or hot potato in the mouth)
8. Warm air (think warming hands in winter with breath)
9. Think of notes before playing. It's useful to play octaves (play clarion A, think of upper altissimo A, then play it)
Alexey
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Author: Sheffna
Date: 2024-05-01 19:57
Thank you for the help!
Alexey wrote:
> My experience is:
>
> 1. Clarinet should be in a good state (no air leaks under the
> pads)
My clarinet is pretty good except for sometimes the thumb key gets stuck and the cork between the upper joint and lower joint has become compressed, but I can't get it fixed yet because I'm moving soon, so I will get a new rented clarinet soon. It also helps when I do the thumb and octave key and start moving up in notes, and I can occasionally get those top notes. Have there been many times that you've had many upper Altissimo notes? I'm in high school and one piece that I'm playing right now does have the E and the F in upper altissimo.
Player since 2017
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Author: Hunter_100
Date: 2024-05-01 21:20
Most band pieces, even grade 6 stuff won't go above altissimo G, and if you are going to play 1st parts you should expect to be playing all the E, F, F# and G comfortably and in tune. G# and A's occasionally show up too, but they are not common.
I'm sure there are more pieces that go way up there in the normal repertoire but the only one that comes to mind is Passacaglia by Ron Nelson which goes up to B on the first part, not that anyone would even hear it though since its at the end when the whole band is playing FFF.
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Author: Sheffna
Date: 2024-05-01 21:36
I can play upper altissimo up UNTIL the B, but I can occasionally pop it out.
Player since 2017
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Author: Tom H
Date: 2024-05-01 22:29
Alexey has a very good list. The biggest item there for me has always been more mouthpiece in the mouth (though it does seem like "cheating").
I have found that I make sure my Vandoren 2.5 reed is wet, then I dry off the reed and the mouthpiece facing. With enough mouthpiece in and a really good reed I can get to G above high C (is that G6 or G7--I always get mixed up.-- it's the G above the Artie Shaw high C). Of course this is just something to do for fun-- no purpose up there.
The Most Advanced Clarinet Book--
tomheimer.ampbk.com/ Sheet Music Plus item A0.1001315, Musicnotes product no. MB0000649.
Boreal Ballad for unaccompanied clarinet-Sheet Music Plus item A0.1001314.
Musicnotes product no. MNO287475
Post Edited (2024-05-01 22:30)
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2024-05-02 16:09
I think you mean B6-C7. See the C4 image to the right of the Clarinet BBoard name at the top of this page.
If the mid-clarinet tenon cork is compressed, there may be leaks. Also, the mechanical linkage between joints could be suspect. Both those things can matter here.
One point not mentioned: the reed should be carefully positioned so the tip is exactly aligned with the tip of the mpc. If the reed is at all visibly lower down, high altissimo won't work as well. (As a related point, mpc design, probably near the tip, seems to be what ultimately limits practical pitch range on the high end.)
I don't drop the tongue, quite the opposite. One basic position seems to work for all registers, such that you can slur easily between low and high pitches without needing modification of tongue position or embouchure.
I also prefer the sound of B6 and C7 using an F#/C# pinky key instead of the G#/D# one. The holes lowest on the clarinet can have surprising effects in high altissimo.
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Author: Alexey
Date: 2024-05-02 18:00
Just for the record, I don't advocate dropping the tongue. I advocate dropping the back part of the tongue and raising the soft palate, which creates space in the back of the mouth required to play high altissimo.
I know it's against some beliefs that the tongue should be high but I do believe that the middle/front part of the tongue should be somewhat high not the back part.
There is an old video and I know there already were conversations related to this video and "voicing".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id5O3Tk5YV8
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Author: Tom H
Date: 2024-05-03 01:33
I agree with Philip. I usually position the reed tip a bit above the top of the mouthpiece for the extreme high notes.
The Most Advanced Clarinet Book--
tomheimer.ampbk.com/ Sheet Music Plus item A0.1001315, Musicnotes product no. MB0000649.
Boreal Ballad for unaccompanied clarinet-Sheet Music Plus item A0.1001314.
Musicnotes product no. MNO287475
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Author: David Eichler
Date: 2024-05-03 13:36
I am not an advanced player, but I have had really excellent teachers and I can play up to altissimo C. For me, it is about air and tongue position. Of course you should have a very well developed embouchure and know the right fingerings before attempting notes this high. This exercise might help: http://www.morsax.com/saxclar1.html
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Author: Selmer Buff
Date: 2024-05-03 23:17
Only my own experience here and that is very limited. I have found that some mouthpiece/clarinet/reed combinations simply don't agree with the upper bounds. However, some combinations will allow those notes at first blow with no change in embouchure nor fancy tongue work.
Clarinets remain a great mystery. I hope that never changes. Too much fun.
-e-
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2024-05-04 16:03
For years I've alternated daily practice days between my Bb and A clarinets, both R13s. Every day I do at least some high altissimo playing, and I'll take it as high as I can at least once. That limit varies by one or more half-steps depending on mouthpiece.
Without having been systematic, I've noticed the following many times. The high end on both clarinets is the same in pitch. The limit on the A would be printed a half-step higher than that on the Bb. So, if I can decently hit printed G7 on the A, I can only decently hit printed F#7 with the same mouthpiece on the Bb - same pitch, different note. However, a different mouthpiece on the Bb might allow me to reach that printed G7 note, or even higher.
That seems to indicate that the mouthpiece limits practical high-end range. Mouthpiece designers no doubt aim to support particular pitch ranges particular ways, and extreme altissimo may not be considered. Perhaps a motivated designer could improve high pitch response.
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