The Secrets of the Altissimo

[@bzgamer41]

My band director assigned me clarinet one and some of the notes are VERY high. This was a life saver, thanks!

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Nice! I’m glad it was helpful!

[@erel7]

I just bought my first Clarinet without any prier wind experience and I gotta say, you make learning so delightful and fun. I really appreciate all of the experience you share and I find your site also pretty useful. Keep going, you're a treasure!

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Aww, thank you! If you haven’t already seen my how to play guide fore beginners you should check that out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpK1dGmtfamZi6c Let me know if there is anything else I can help with!

[@sponix4fit]

You are like a teacher to me! I can learn from home now thank you so much!! :D

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Yay! And I have over 150 videos on this channel now so that should keep you entertained for a good amount of time :-)

[@julietshiju7128]

I just went on vacation for a month and this video really helped me get back into clarinet. Earned my sub

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Yay! I’m glad it was helpful!

[@jazway27]

…landing on the notes! 👏🏾 Great way to approach to altíssimo

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Thanks, I'm glad you like it!

[@helenmhb]

Loved that the first piece of advice is to relax. I'm trying to make that my mantra.

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Yes! You have to let the reed vibrate and tension is the opposite of free vibrations.

[@joshuahuffhuff7396]

I see great potential in this channel you carry yourself well I have subscribed so hopefully I get to see more looking forward to future videos I find what you're doing very inspirational thank you for doing what you do and I hope to learn more soon 😁

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Thanks so much for your kind words and for subscribing! I hope you learn lots from my other videos, and feel free to let me know if there is anything you would like me to make a video on!

[@mateospina7417]

trying to play freebirds by scott mcallister… wish me luck on the high c’s

[@SarahSkilton]

Such a well explained and presented video, thank you so much.

[@QuickStartClarinet]

You’re very welcome! I am glad that it was helpful!

[@lhudsonster]

Fingering chart for super altissamo notes available? Not on regular fingering chart, but notes show up on page 25.

[@QuickStartClarinet]

This website is a great resource for all kinds of fingering options! www.wfg.woodwind.org/clarinet/cl_alt_4.html

[@paulnorth820]

Hi, Josh. Do you know where I can find some kind of reference for alternative fingerings in the altissimo? I've only been playing for 18 months and I get to G most of the time but I'd like to explore the options. BTW, I love that you used the adagio from the 622 in the video. It may be the most heart breaking piece of music I know. I can't count the number of times I've closed my eyes listening to this masterpiece. Thanks for all of your efforts.. I love your channel.

[@QuickStartClarinet]

I'm glad that you enjoy the channel! There is a fantastic resource for altissimo fingerings. Here is a link: www.wfg.woodwind.org/clarinet/cl_alt_3.html Good luck, and let me know if you have any questions!

[@xtarssgi5922]

Thank you very much, this is going to help me a lot

[@QuickStartClarinet]

You’re welcome! I am glad it is helpful!

[@ameliaweeks9421]

Thank you so much for this video! Do you have any tips on how to switch from the altissimo register to the higher notes of the clarion register without squeaking too much? I always seem to squeak going from high D to C or A, for example. Also I would love a video on throat tones!

[@QuickStartClarinet]

That’s a great question! Similar to descending from the clarion to the chalumeau the reed wants to stay at the higher vibrations of the higher register. I think it is completely appropriate to tongue as lightly as possible when going down to a lower register (even if it is slurred in the music). I also find that oddly enough the clarion takes a little more air than the altissimo so energizing the air a little as you go down can help too. I think a video on throat tones sounds like a great idea!

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Here is this week's video on throat tones, with another one coming next week too! kzbin.info/www/bejne/jnfTiJeJfdaWqck

[@basedokadaizo]

excellent tutorial! i "fell off the wagon" so to speak after high school and am getting back into the clarinet. are there specific fingerings that work better for trilling those clarion-altissimo notes?

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Yes, there are a lot of different trill fingerings! If you have specific notes let me know and I can give you some ideas. Good luck getting back into your clarinet playing!

[@basedokadaizo]

@@QuickStartClarinet thank you! i'm specifically trying to trill an altissimo E, and trying to get the effect by trying to jump between D and E is killing my fingers ;w; thank you so much!

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Assuming you are playing on a French system, that should just be wiggling your right index finger to trill between the regular D and E fingerings.

[@basedokadaizo]

@@QuickStartClarinet after a review of my fingering chart it appeared the issue was behind the mouthpiece. i mixed up the fingering for D and D#. 💀 though i would still absolutely love to see something like a future short on trill fingerings for notes like F#-G!

[@QuickStartClarinet]

That's a great idea for a short! And there is a good trill fingering F#-G. You play normal middle finger F# and then trill with the bottom right side key. Also, this site is an incredible resource for finding useful altissimo fingerings: www.wfg.woodwind.org/clarinet/cl_alt_3.html

[@saxmusicmail]

Notice that the register tube is very small as compared to the other tone holes around it. When you raise the left hand index finger you are creating another register hole, but it is actually too large. Instead of picking that finger all the way up off the tonehole, just "half-hole" it. That is, roll the finger down and open just barely a crack on the top edge of the tone hole. Doing this will stabilize the altissimo notes, make them clear, resonant, and easy to speak. Go ahead, try it. I have found no drawbacks to this method.

[@QuickStartClarinet]

That is a great description of how and why half-holing works! I've personally found that when I am supporting with enough air it makes very little difference, so it isn't worth the effect that it can have on the pitch and the slightly more cumbersome finger movement. However, if it is working well for you then by all means keep it up!

[@ClarinetEnthusiast]

Is it just me, or is playing Gb octave 6 using basic fingerings really inconsistent, and sometimes just doesn’t work at all? I ended up giving up on the basic fingering, and just use an alternate fingering if I can. Any help/idea why this is the case? This is also a problem with F octave 6 basic fingering but not as bad.

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Yes, that is super normal! Nothing wrong with using “alternate” fingerings if it is easier. The fingerings in the altissimo are all about finding the most in tune and stable squeaks.

[@bensomberg]

Thanks. Another very useful video, but when you got to the punch line (or one of them) you said something about reaching down and landing on top of the high notes. I understand the alternative and am sure that I try too hard to reach up for the high notes, but could you elaborate on what you mean by reaching down?

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Sure! It is basically just the opposite of what you described. Instead of trying to reach up for the note and tightening up, imagine what it would feel like if you were going down to the note. Even though you are literally moving up from a lower note to higher note, try and feel like you are supporting through the lower note and then settling down into the higher note rather than squeezing up for it. Let me know if that helps and if you have any other questions!

[@bensomberg]

@@QuickStartClarinet Thank you, Josh. That does make sense and I do believe that is part of the problem I am having. I find that if I am just playing random notes on my clarinet I can move from lower to upper register rather effortlessly. But when I suddenly come upon an upper register note in the context of a song--even if it is one that I can generally handle--I find it much more difficult to get the note out. I will work on your suggestion.

[@RobBob555]

Your a great teacher 🪈👌

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Thank you! I'm glad that you enjoyed it 😀

[@ericleavell2620]

My altissimo notes are flat no matter what I do. Is there any adjustment that a repair guy could make?

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Have you tried a harder reed?

[@ericleavell2620]

@@QuickStartClarinet currently using a Vandoren V12 3 1/2 on a Vandoren DB4. About 20% of the reeds in the box seem to hard already. Maybe I’ll try a 4. I have an old pre-R13 that doesn’t seem to have the problem (I use a Selmer 9*)

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Ahh, that reed is definitely plenty hard for that mouthpiece. Selmer clarinets are notorious for being flat in the upper register (which can be a benefit). I would suggest looking for a different barrel to solve that problem. But, you may want to consider if it is really big enough of a problem that it needs solving. Some questions to consider: how flat is it, are you playing with other people you need to be in tune with, is that instrument worth fussing with to improve the pitch?

[@PinacoladaMatthew]

altissimo G is my limit.....does a Yamaha 250 plastic clarinet able to play higher with acceptable tone quality?

[@PinacoladaMatthew]

im using Vandoren b40 13 and Vandoren V12 3 reeds. Really I just need a confirmation that it ain't my gear that I can't play super atissimo well, it's just me and i can work on it

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Theoretically any instrument (that is in good condition) can play all of the notes. That being said it is usually a little easier on nicer instruments. It is probably mostly just something that you need to work on developing. The one possible equipment issue could be that your reed is just a little soft.

[@PinacoladaMatthew]

@@QuickStartClarinet I just reached A today on a decent reed, with acceptable tone....i will try 3.5 in the future....but my mouthpiece opening is quite small as it is

[@PinacoladaMatthew]

@@QuickStartClarinet thank you man

[@PinacoladaMatthew]

@@QuickStartClarinet I think I just didn't bother trying hard enough, due to bad experience lol

[@bibi53962]

thank you for the video. Only, at the end, we were not able to see all your fingers playing F#....

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Yes I noticed that when I was editing :-( The fingerings that I used from the www.wfg.woodwind.org/clarinet/cl_alt_3.html page were RT -2-|---G#, RT 12-|123G#, RT 12-|4---G#, and RT -2-|2---G# (actually I don't think that last one is even on the page. There are so many options!)

[@neillocke7429]

My dyslexic ass read the secrets of autism, And i was like, what are they hiding?

[@QuickStartClarinet]

🤣

[@sophialeanne4113]

trying to hit the altissimo a in danzon no 2 👀

[@QuickStartClarinet]

That is such a great piece! Have fun and more air 😄

[@ldmillerlm1]

This is just word salad