G'day,

my Dad bought a clarinet and has never got around to learning to play, so I've borrowed it. I produce music electronically, and record some of my own instruments, mostly guitar and random world precusion etc. Thought id have a go a the clarinet and incorporate it into my music. So ive been having fun recording clarinet and processing the sound into all sorts of interesting textures, quite fun. Has a nice dark moody but gentle sound to it.

Anyway, I know Dad likes Acker Bilk so I thought id learn to play stranger on the shore for him. After the first passage, Acker goes up way higher than I can get my clarinet to go. Is he useing a different type of clarinet? or is there an advanced technique I need to do to jump an octave? I can just learn the same melody an octave lower I guess but I'm intigued!

sorry ive got no idea what I'm doing and dont have time or money for lessons!

help is appreciated!

peace

also, I'm not sure what type of clarinet this is, but im pretty sure it's the most common one.

Some clarinets need to be "broken in" and this is a very tricky process.

You can speed it up by gently tapping the clarinet on a table. Little by little start hitting it harder and harder until you are almost at full force.

This should really speed up the process and get you hitting those high notes in no time.

Most people try to break in a clarinet by playing it a few minutes a day but that can take YEARS!

Do you know all of the fingerings for playing clarinet, even the notes in the higher registers? Go to your local music store and pick up a clarinet fingering chart and/or book, or you can find one on the internet for free. Unless the song you're speaking of uses an E-flat clarinet or something, your clarinet should be capable of reaching the high notes in that song. Good luck.

hahaha Phil, classic.

thanks guys. I did get a fingering chart off the net, the noteson this song go higher than I can useing regular fingering. I thought maybe there was a special technigque with the mouth?

anyway i found a video of him playing the song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7jZeXvpyZQ

the notes I'm talking about are at about 46 seconds onwards. I can play up to that no worries but then I run ou of notes! Have a look at the video and a) see what type of clarinet you think he is using, and/or how he is making those high notes. I'c certain the highest note im suposed to be able to get

I found some sheet music on the net, it says it's for Bb clarinet. I can't actually see the music without paying for it so I'm not sure if perhaps it's been adapted for Bb and that section of the song sits an octave lower or not.

thanks in advance guys!

argh!!!! the fingering chart has a SECOND PAGE! HAHAHAHA

what a duffer! you can hit both the button and hole under your thumb at the same time!

I did think it was a bit limited in it's range.

hilarious. Thanks for your time all the same guys.

Weird. I didn't even realize that there was a thumb hole back there!

Boy do I feel dumb...

Are you serious, Phil?!!!

alot of clarinets come without them. Go to your local hardware store and purchase a power drill, and drill your own. Try and make it the same size as your thumb for ease of use.

thanks,
managment

I thought my clarinet sounded different than the other guys' on YouTube. I'm going to start using the thumbhole now. Anyone have a good fingering for throat "G" using the thumbhole? It doesn't seem to work anymore.

what an idiot

G is open. I'm pretty sure there is no other fingering using the thumbhole. Have a wonderful day.

No fingering using the thumbhole? On a sax, yes. On a clarinet, there is the first space "F", as well as the C above the staff.

I was talking about G on the staff on clarinet. Its open. I know there are other fingerings using the thumbhole, pretty much all of them! And on sax, there is no thumbhole, only the octave key, and open is C#, not G, on saxophone.

Sorry about the misunderstanding. I thought you meant no fingering using just the thumbhole (which is true on the sax, being that there is no thumbhole). I approved your friend request.