Better Clarinet High Notes - Five things to improve them

[@lovelylych7643]

I've been playing the clarinet again for about a year after a break of almost 20 years and your videos help me soooo much! Thank you so very much for making them!

[@sitarnut]

Dear, wonderful Michelle... I've been playing clarinet since 1957 when I saw Pete Fountain on Lawrence Welk...that did it. However, I couldn't read music, but bought his LP's and pretty much learned the solos. I slaved and drove my parents crazy...eventually, I could get around on the instrument pretty darn well and learned to swing by listening to Pete....those are fond memories.. I so wish I'd had someone as cool, ultra sensitive, and as intelligent as you in knowing what beginners are going through. You are helping me even now at 74 to become the economical, thoughtful player I always wanted to be. You are the best teacher I've ever seen, period. Your grasp of psychology on beginning wind student's mental blocks is superb. Your bubbling personality and cute things you do like pretending to break your axe over your knee is priceless and mirrors all of us in early days. Many blessings from a jazz Beatnik in Texas.

[@heidil9894]

Thank you! I have been struggling for months, with inconsistent results. I am so pleased to play these notes easily now and thank you for the advice. I went from trying to imagine my tongue saying Eee to changing that slightly to lift sides of my tongue up. It reminds me of saying the double L sound in Welsh, that’s the perfect tongue position. Thanks again for all of your videos, they are so very helpful!

[@edwardmorton6691]

You're a great teacher and a very positive influence to me as a older beginner. I only started yesterday and I've already picked up tons of good advice. Thank you.

[@techeddie9035]

Thank you! Take it from a retired teacher -- you are a great teacher. I liked the way you so clearly explained the physics of air flow without sounding like a science teacher. :-)

[@wintersam1030]

Really thanks miss, you took a long time to make this video and it is much better than more instructors found else where

[@Tams107]

do you have a video for the high notes above the staff past D. I feel that mine do not even come out. btw this video is such a saver! thank you so much. You are truly a mentor.

[@jlarosa888]

Ive been back on aince grade school. 35 now and have around 10 years... give or take between getting married, having kids and them being old enough to start.. And then teaching them. So i have limited time. Your videos definitely help.

[@ClarinetMentors]

HI Everyone - This is the introduction to a three part video series. You can sign up for the full free mini course at www.masteringclarinethighnotes.com. There is a worksheet to go with this course at: www.clarinetmentors.com/resources/HighNotesWorksheetVideoOneofThree.pdf

[@adriennefischer4139]

My biggest high note challenge is getting a good musical sound that doesn't "stick out" on the highest G of a 3 octave arpeggio in either G major or minor.

[@superslowmojoe401]

I'm a freshman going into marching band. The first song we are practicing is Superstition by Stevie Wonder. Until now, I wondered why I couldn't get the high notes on the piece. Now I realize that I need a thicker reed. Thank you so much!

[@lorenwoodson9164]

Thanks Michelle. VERY useful stuff, as usual from you. Love your implied admonition for PATIENCE with ourselves. The most useful of the the 5 was to get a stiffer reed. Huge difference! Also abt hand position.

[@helmutgruber6869]

Dear Michelle, so many great lessons you let us be a part of it. You demonstrated that the high c will not speak well with a soft read. Is the same true for bass clarinet or are there other rules?

[@rileyyielding]

hey michelle. i am a 56 year old performer on guitar cornet, and singing. for years, i have thought it would be fun to add clarinet to the show. i have picked up several at pawn shops etc. got one with fairly good pads, cobbled it together to be ok... then could not hit high notes... frankly did not even know about them. this got me past thatduring your video... did not get up to the high c, but was able to play the lower high notes with the old 2 reed that was in the case. looking forward to getting a stiffer one and using it. thanks again. i will subscribe, in case i decide to continue to pursue this new toy. thanks again.

[@josephworley628]

Your a fantastic teacher Mrs Anderson.

[@johntrickett2994]

Hi Michelle, I have been playing the clarinet for about six months now and I recognize all of the issues that you pointed out in your video, and I found your video very helpful towards correcting them. One of the biggest problems that I currently have, is with the choice of a suitable reed, I agonize over the choice of reed, the reed position and ligature position on the mouthpiece. I realize that a harder reed does improve my playing in the upper register, however this appears to detract from the tone quality in the lower registers, producing a fuzzy tone in the middle and lower octaves. I have found that some minor adjustments of the ligature position seem to improve the higher register notes, but I usually revert to sanding small amounts off the reed to try and achieve a good balance between the upper and lower registers

[@ClarinetMentors]

Reed strength is tricky. It sounds like you could fall in between two reed strengths. One is a bit too soft, and the next size is a bit too stiff. Sometimes, trying another brand of reed, which may be sized slightly differently, can help you find that in-between strength. Of course, if you are good a sanding the reed yourself, that is likely a good solution.

[@norbeckhillsautomation8871]

I recently had to tackle a piece with lots of altissimo notes that had given me problems (C#, D, D#, E, F#) in the past, and lots of moving around between clarion and these various notes (Lokketonar, a clarinet/organ duet Haegeland). Moving to a mouthpiece with a fairly narrow gap (Selmer HS*) and harder reed (3 1/2) and sanding the reed to get it balanced made all the difference in the world). Maybe you can do a talk about sanding reeds? I use the Ridenour kit (which is just a piece of glass and a sanding block) and his method of balancing the two sides until they are equally responsive, etc. Not hard to get good at.

[@JaeWiki]

Michelle thanks you sooooo much for this video. I tried the "he" method one time at Marching Band practice and my friend & I was louder than 4 trumpets.

[@ClarinetMentors]

Wow! I'm glad you are enjoying this technic.

[@-NGC-6302-]

What the... a clarinet being louder than another instrument, and trumpets of all things? Well that's out of my Mband experience. I'll be sure to try this and maybe someone more than ten feet away will be able to hear the sound of my section.

[@alexcarter8807]

@@-NGC-6302- Years ago I read about a clarinet busker in Boulder Colorado, who'd play clarinet and got to where he almost sounded like a sax, and as loud.

[@anypercentdeathless]

Just bought a clarinet. Clarion D and up didn't prove too challenging. But C, C#, and B spoke only about half the time. UNTIL I REALIZED I WAS PLAYING THESE NOTES TOO SHARP. I dropped and tucked and relaxed (hard to say) my chin and embrouchure to flatten those three notes a bit...and they smoothly slid into the chalumeau A, G#, etc.!!!!! Just an idea that may work for others also learning.

[@rhewt01]

I ordered some 3's from amazon because my music store closed. I also purchased a synthetic reed to try that out. It was expensive but they say it doesn't need conditioned and won't break so I hope I like it.

[@stanleywhetstone8483]

Iv'e been learning for about 20 months and am now playing a 3.5 reed and am getting a serious undertone in high C. I have watched your video, which has helped, thank you very much, but would you advise getting grade 4 reeds. I'm now 74 and am beginning to learn the Mozart clarinet Concerto. Tough, but enjoyable as I make progress.

[@ClarinetMentors]

Hi Stanley - Sorry for the delay in replying. You may want to experiment with a stiffer reed, but perhaps a 3.75. Vandoren makes a 3.5+, as do other brands. Legere has a 3.75. It could also mean that you just want to get a slightly faster airstream going.

[@stanleywhetstone8483]

Hi MIchelle, thank you for your reply and advice. I have tried Roco Mitchell Lurie grade 4. they are a half way house from a Royal 3.5 to a 4. I'm really happy with them. I can easily reach G#3 now. I have also joined an orchestra. its called the Cobweb Orchestra and it is made up of people learning an instrument whether they are young or old. it's a valuable experience in playing ensemble music.

[@654wizardguy]

Hey Michelle, this video was really helpful! I've always had somewhat of a difficulty tonguing correctly. I was taught to tongue on the roof of my mouth, and not on the reed. I normally find now that it is awkward for me to tongue on the reed now. Is there a way for me to develop this properly? Thanks!

[@ClarinetMentors]

It feels very strange at first to tongue on the reed. Once you start doing it properly, it only takes about 2 weeks for it to feel normal, and easy. This video may help: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aGe5n4WZgbOFias

[@kelsyzacarias6056]

Did the warm up helped so much after i blew on the piece of paper i could play it😧blown away

[@ClarinetMentors]

I love hearing that. I think it just activates our blowing muscles, and usually our clarinets will sound better afterward!

[@barrebeacock3308]

Hi Michelle, I don't have a problem playing my high notes, thanks to you over the 5 years I have been a member, but I do have a problem reading and playing eighth and sometime quarter notes in a fast piece, it is not that I don't know the notes, it is reading them and applying them at speed to the clarinet. Like you said ,I blame myself , my age and feel I shouldn't be in this band. Five years ago I couldn't read music and I couldn't play the clarinet ,I was 80 years old then I am now 85 and perhaps it is my age that is preventing me. More experienced players say don't worry it will come, but I haven't got time on my side, so is there anything I can do to speed it up, a method or exercises. Thank you for all the help you have given me in getting as far as I have come. Sincerely Barre Beacock.

[@ClarinetMentors]

Hi Barre - There are definitely ways to practise that help you to speed up your fingers. I have some videos here on KZbin. There are three videos that might be helpful to you that are simply preview videos to the Faster Clarinet Fingers course. You can sign up for (and enjoy them at no charge) at: www.fasterclarinetfingers.com/getstarted

[@mel18mh]

Hi Michelle thank you for your videos they really help as I am relatively new player 😄 when playing high notes I find I can slur up to C but I can’t tongue that high only to around A Any ideas or help please 😄

[@moon_lyrics]

I can play on my high notes but it hard to tongue and switching between them Edit: I play on a size 3 Reed and it makes that growl

[@tgulley6753]

Hi! Is there an alternate fingering for E flat? There is this piece(Duo No.1 by Beethoven) where I need to play high E flat to to E very fast...16th notes, and I'm having a difficult time. Please advise. Thank you.

[@ClarinetMentors]

If it is the octave at the top of the staff, there is no great alternative. However, if it is really fast, sometimes you can get away with leaving your pinky down, and it may make it easier for you. If this is in the altissimo register, then you can try Eb with 23/3. I hope that helps!

[@giancedrick507]

1 minute into this video and I already regret haven't started learning the clarinet earlier.

[@brianlittleton4714]

ThanK you Michele, that's what i was doing but my pads had to be replaced on the saxes every two years. The clarinet has never had any pad trouble (to my knowledge?)

[@Tyler-Shumate]

I know you made this video back in 2016, but I was wondering if you could help me out with something. Every time I try to play above the D in the altissimo register, there is either a growling sound to it, or the undertone to the note comes out instead and I was wondering what to do to try to fix that. Like, the note comes out but there is an the growl with it, or it just doesn't come out at all. If you could, please respond! You're videos have helped me so much!

[@caterpillarnerd6549]

Tylet Shumate I had the same problem I am not a teacher or anything but what I did is I would start with B and go up slurring the notes with a crescendo and play the notes really high at a ff and then once you get it better only go up to a f and then mf and then you could go to tounged notes instead of slurred and then add a quarter rest in between then you could play the note with a better sound, this might not help you but I hope it does!

[@veldamclean7451]

Thank you!

[@olgajacobs9743]

Playing the high D coming from low G in measure 90 in the Adagio (second movement) of Mozart's Clarinet concerto for B-flat clarinet. That high D seems to be in a very delicate spot.

[@nr3rful]

My holes are closed and I can do the high notes BUT your clarinet tone sounds so much better. Is it the expensive vs not so expensive?

[@alexcarter8807]

It's practice and things like lone tones. She'd sound great on a plastic student clarinet with the stock mouthpiece ligature etc right out of the box.

[@willowlikesbenches1762]

Hi Michelle, I found this video immensely helpful, I am a beginner clarinet player and I have been noticing some troubles with the lower notes. Occasionally they sound breathy, and I was told that this was from having an old reed, but I have found they sound like this with a brand new reed also. Any ideas?

[@ClarinetMentors]

Usually a breathy sound is either caused by your airstream not moving fast enough, or some hole on the instrument not being fully covered. This can be fingers not quite sealing the holes, or you could have a key that is not closing properly. You may want an experienced player to test out your clarinet to rule out a mechanical cause. As far as improving your airspeed, these videos may help: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKjVlI2LZ6dprrM kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5OXkHuFrNh4nqc - activating blowing muscles kzbin.info/www/bejne/gIS4iJ-bZtGCrbs - good huffing/long tone warmup

[@pepefubias7654]

What about the super altísimo that IS really a challenge specially linking notes not togheter

[@brianlittleton4714]

Still making the grade through the highs and the lows. Always needing to smooth things up

[@clarinetmanny7201]

useful information

[@TheFluteboy1]

What happens to the air flow if you want to play softer?

[@clarineterbob]

Michelle, I have this high note problem that I can't seem to fix. I play a note that starts out in tune but the pitch begins to slowly drop after about 5 or six seconds and keeps going down (very slowly). I try to bring it back up or to stop its decent by keeping my tongue arched high and keeping my "hee" air going rapidly and my embouchure firm and steady, but the pitch keeps going down. Absolutely nothing I do will bring it back to where it should be. If I immediately do this the second time, the pitch is right back up to were it should be and the story repeats itself.. I am not a beginner and, except for this, consider my self a pretty decent player.

[@rhossevai1397]

Perhaps it's your clarinet causing the problem? Because that is... Very, very strange, as I've never seen something like this.

[@pepefubias7654]

I hace problems linking f super altísimo and above to other notes when tthey are not the following It IS just a question off practice

[@gameaddiction7731]

Would you say the Silverstein ligature is worth all the money it costs? I already have a good ligature, but I'm looking to see if it would work even better than it (and build up a reliable collection because I practice and perform a lot), since I've seen so many players using it lately.

[@fernie51296]

A lot of pros are switching to it, so it's probably at least worth a try. Definitely don't buy it without first trying it. I've tried a lot of ligatures, including the Silverstein, and I always go back to the same rovner I have used since 8th grade. That's 8 years now with the same ligature. It's just a personal preference thing.

[@gameaddiction7731]

Yeah, I can't seem to find a music store that has one to try out, are there any you think would have it?

[@fernie51296]

Game Addiction well there are music stores online that let you try out stuff. I think WWBW is a good example. You could always call Silverstein about a trial. I generally don't do that since there are quite a few good music stores where I live.

[@gameaddiction7731]

Thanks, I'll see if woodwind and brass wind will let me try it through the mail.

[@jon7696]

+Game Addiction How experienced of a player are you?I tried one at the TMEA all state convention and I noticed it has a free blowing sound,however the only one who will notice a difference in the tone is you.This is because when we play we only here the vibrations of the sound.What the Silverstein ligature does is it creates a sound to where the player can here more of the tone compared to the vibrations,however the audience will not notice a difference.

[@lz00001-c]

what reed do you use?(brand) i heard there was a Vandoran V21 reed now.

[@ClarinetMentors]

I use Steuer Exclusive, French, and Vandoren V12 mostly.

[@cheknfaks]

I believe it is in my Armature, mouthpiece and reeve. I'm too inconsistent with getting notes then no sound at all.

[@redduck7666]

hi , is good to use mouthpiece cushion??

[@ClarinetMentors]

Most people prefer using a mouthpiece cushion, both for comfort and for reducing vibrations through the jaw. They come in different materials and thicknesses, and you can just try them to see what you like best.

[@brianlittleton4714]

below are the comments I could think of today the 1st of July

[@ClarinetMentors]

Thanks Brian!

[@shadowstyle9693]

So I play on a 1 and a half reed and Im able to hit a high C just fine, should I upgrade and make my life much easier?

[@ClarinetMentors]

If your notes are coming out easily and you like the sound that you are creating, there is no need to change anything. That is lighter than what works optimally for most people, but every person and equipment are different.

[@shadowstyle9693]

@@ClarinetMentors Thanks, actually of your videos helped me fix the tune of my C. My double lip embouchure wasn't strong enough to support the note with the reed that I had, so I had to switch to a one lip embouchure and the difference is amazing. Thanks for helping so many people improve their Clarinet skills, you are doing a great job!

[@spooky9569]

Yes!!! I can play a high b!!! Now I just have to work on my high c

[@notsonisely]

Awesome! I'm working on my highest g ☺

[@gameaddiction7731]

Nice man, I'm working on the high highest A (and making the G and F# have a bit better tone) Good luck in you quest to master the altissimo register!

[@raymondscavo7510]

My problem the type of music I play now are church hymns. Not much high notes used beyond high D. Out of the band music for a while. Now my age 81.

[@ינוןסלח-נ1ר]

Its like blowing up a baloon with air (the control on the blowing strainght)

[@brianlittleton4714]

After practicing, I'd like to see how you put your clarinet away for the day

[@gameaddiction7731]

If you want to know what I do, First I take off my reed and wipe it off on my shirt (carefully, you don't want it to chip), then put it in my reed guard. I second swab the instrument two or three times. If you only do it once, it won't get all the saliva, which can ruin the pads eventually. Then I just take it apart and put it in my case.

[@brianlittleton4714]

thanks Michele, this is what I'm finding out. Brian especailly when playing up to four ledger lines above the staff

[@TheSibeliusman]

How do I make the air stream "smaller"? Seems impossible! This isn't a flute, meaning the embouchoure size remains the same around the mouthpiece. I don't understand.

[@ClarinetMentors]

One way to help achieve this is to hold your tongue high inside of your mouth so that the passage for the air is smaller. This happens when we say "Heeee". In a sense, this image of smaller air is a metaphor taken from watching water with a spray valve. You can have the same quantity of water coming of a hose in a big wide (but very gentle) spray, or a small focused (and much more forceful) stream. This is probably more of an airspeed issue than an air shape issue, but many people can visualize the difference between gentle mist and power wash. It helps us to create that more forceful, speedy airstream (which supports clearer clarinet tone). I hope that helps.

[@brianlittleton4714]

I have to remember to use the pad driers everytime I play

[@randyking9489]

If you have a buffet prodige with those leather pads that stick when they get moist. Should have came with auto pad dryer. Trying to trade mine for yamaha 250 or 255. No one wants the buffet prodige. Buffet b12 was good however. Buffet has gone downhill

[@alexcarter8807]

"There are 6 or 7 mean ass-" (uh-oh!) "-pects of..." (whew!)

[@titusmcpherson2023]

I still can't get them if anyone can help please

[@brianlittleton4714]

There must be some proper way to put it to bed for the day

[@svetlio0195]

19:20 XD xD xD XD

[@djgacha_lover9331]

I did not understand: (

[@daveday5507]

Get on with it.

[@jimmytrue1181]

you dont play at all , all you do is talking and talking , you probably dont know how to play clarinet , but you talk very good , thank you .

[@cheknfaks]

This is my biggest dilemma.

[@K_beans]

Can you make a shorter video please!

[@ClarinetMentors]

Hi Kate V. - Probably not! I think it is just my style. I have lots of ideas to share, and they seem to work for many people. I do think that there is no shortage of "short" videos on KZbin, so good luck. Having said that, I do really think that the teaching pointers that I include in my longer videos will make a difference to most clarinetists. If there is a challenge you have, it may be worth 15 minutes of your time to have a strategy to fix it.