On a piece in band, I have to start a note on high C(middle F fingering with the register key). I can never hit the note. Blowing more air causes a note one step lower to come out.

Help!


Edited by Forum Admin at 13:15 on Wednesday, April 16, 2003
Reason: Title Clarified]

This note is called upper clarion C. It is two ledger lines above the staff.

It`s a common problem note because the only left hand finger you have down is the thumb, so lack of support exists.

Because of the lack of support, most would find that biting or some other way of changing the embechure could solve it. However, this is a last resort.

The truth is that the problem does not lie in your embechoure, your air, your instrument, or any other such source. You`ll learn how to start a phrase on this note cleanly with time. It`s better to do just leave everything alone rather than adjusting any of your techniques to play this. It`s kind of the same issue as when you first "crossed the break" by learning how to play third line B natural.

Yeah- this definetly "High C" because I can get over an octave above that and I know people that can get higher than me..... LOL

Bradley

Perfect practice makes nearly perfect!

Opps- I meant "definetly ISNT high C"

Bradley

Dos any one know how to do altissimo fingerings.like high D and higher,its higher then the C that you guys are talking about

The highest I`ve ever had to reach is a high F "4 ledger lines". That was for solo & ensemble too, Meditation "From Thais" (its great everyone should play it )(made a 1 by the way ) Anyway, I think that if your embochure is right and it still doesn`t work that it is the support. I found that out with my solo, But I did something somewhat bad ..lol.. I would use my pinki.. I would put it under those 4 keys and it helped it haha.. so i did it and that judge noticed hehe.. but obviously he didn`t count off. He justed pointed it out. But keep trying and I`m sure you will get it. Good Luck!

Just keep your embochure tight. When i first started i could only get to a High G. Now I can play the whole Chromatic Scale

hm... i do not mean it is diffcult to play the note B, but it is when u paly the note B with other notes, the swithing of the fingering is diffcult...hm..how to solve it....really thank you for the people who rely.....really appreaciate it!!!

Try placing your tongue slightly higher in your mouth.
Also, make sure you have a really focused airstream.
It will get easier with practice.

Is this really `High C` at two ledger lines above the staff? If not, what should we call it? Clarion C?

I`ve got a problem with high notes. I can scale up to C,D,E,F even G but I can`t hit them during the course of a piece of music.

Also when I play a piece of music my high notes sound piercing, screechy, to me - I wince at them inwardly.

I`m not talking very high - I usually play dance band melodies in lower registers - but A,B,C,D above the staff, such as in Mozart`s Concerto Theme Op 107.

I`d really appreciate anything anyone has to say about this whole high note thing.

And where did all the old Jazz clarinettists play? They all seem to be warbling away really high making sounds I just can`t imitate.

I have found that the most important thing is I good tight embachure. What I usually do to practice high notes that are difficult, is to start on a lower note and work up till I can do that easily.

Ultimatly, practicing often and strengthening your embachure is what makes those notes easier

make sure you have the right size reed .if its not a 3 and above it won`t handle those high notes as well as a 3 1/2 will.i had the same problem then i use a 3 1/2 and i can go up there just fine


-use music as a guide not an absolute source

I`d like to know what other people think about this. I use 2 1/2 reeds and I can`t sound a stiff one of those.
Anything as stiff as a 3 or more I wouldn`t be able to sound at all.

Is there anyone out there using 2 1/2 or softer and sounding high notes successfully?

p.s. actually wouldn`t `high c` be the c above the c above the stave? Or isn`t this possible on the clarinet?

I use a 1 reed and have no problems with altissimo playing.
In my opinion your mouthpiece has to fit your style of playing....and that is another subject.