Clarinet Glissandos Chart.

Hello,

someone asked for this years ago, (I was newbie here) I said I could do one but our "woodwinds expert" Mr.McConaughey (Flint) said "nah, wrrrr, because grrrrrrr, and wrrrrr also grrrrr...." and he was Mod then, so I didn't say a word.

I did one, just I'm not a Pro clarinetist, so I'd like you all who play clarinet watch this and tell me if you consider I should change something, the point here is to give a clear idea of which glissandos can be possible (for people don't play clarinet) because some people listens a glissando and say "oh you see, is possible" and write another one is NOT possible :P

I'm not sure about the highest glisses.

Glissandos are possible because Clarinet is a half whole half keys mechanism instrument, notes are determinated by keys make not gliss possible.

how does it look to you ?

I've long been curious about the way to achieve this effect in a clarinet, esp. since listening to the beginning of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. As usual, your help is very welcome - though I'm not sure whether I'll actually use it.

Well you'll think in something...

Just I forgot to mention that all so called "possible" glissandos sholud be concidered as "difficult". Clarinet is not a trombone.

For long intervales like G-B a fast gliss won't work, it won't sound linear, I'd say that a true linear gliss on G-B takes at least 3 seconds, so is not like having fun with the pitch-bend wheel.

EDIT:

a few hours after making this chart I was like thinking this was too good to be truth :D so I tried to play those and I found this:

Gliss 1 G-B (not so difficult)

Gliss 2 C-Eb (Difficult to play it linear, is like smooth steps)

Gliss 3 E-F# (Difficult)

Gliss 4 D-F# (very difficult, wave easily collapses)

Gliss 5 G-Bb (Difficult)

Gliss 6 C-E (very difficult, wave easily collapses)

Higher glisses, I couldn't do it.

All glissandos are easier descendent.

I could record so you can hear, like I said, is not like trombone.

I am by no means a "professional" clarinetist, but I have to respond to this post... First: a glissando "chart" for the clarinet is bogus and useless; just write the notes you would like the performer to slide to and from and they will do it. If it is over the break, they can compensate with quick chromatic and/or lip adjustments. If the performer can not do this, find a better performer. Second: your range chart is off. A Bb clarinet's lowest sounding concert pitch is a D below the E displayed above. What you have shown is the "written pitch," which doesn't change between clarinets (the actual sounding pitch does change). Third: A good performer could easily extend the range of the gliss to a high A or Bb (again with the use of the embouchure). Fourth: performing a glissando from the (4th line) D above the break to any upper note (high C - two ledger lines) is the easiest range of the clarinet within which to glissando. Fifth: Glissandos are much more difficult when descending. Finally: a glissando on the clarinet should not result solely from "half-holing"... the embouchure and tongue position should do most of the work. I hope this clears up a number of things.

Hey, thanks for your input.

First: a glissando "chart" for the clarinet is bogus and useless; just write the notes you would like the performer to slide to and from and they will do it. If it is over the break, they can compensate with quick chromatic and/or lip adjustments. If the performer can not do this, find a better performer.

No I don't think is that useless, Lip gliss can be done an all notes, like in Sax, but would be only -1 whole step at most.

Second: your range chart is off. A Bb clarinet's lowest sounding concert pitch is a D below the E displayed above. What you have shown is the "written pitch," which doesn't change between clarinets (the actual sounding pitch does change).

Ops, yes, my mistake :D, I'm fixing that "Written pitch"

Third: A good performer could easily extend the range of the gliss to a high A or Bb (again with the use of the embouchure).

I'd say G is the fair end, altissimo skills should not be included on ranges, is like Sax, F# is the end, I can play A but I won't write it. Bb sounds way too high, no doubt some pros can do it but I'll set G# as higher in the chart.

Fourth: performing a glissando from the (4th line) D above the break to any upper note (high C - two ledger lines) is the easiest range of the clarinet within which to glissando.

Strange, then was me on my cheap clarinet.

Fifth: Glissandos are much more difficult when descending.

again, strange, I noticed all glisses easier in descendent because was easier to control the pitch by start closing the wholes, than start opening them.

Finally: a glissando on the clarinet should not result solely from "half-holing"... the embouchure and tongue position should do most of the work. I hope this clears up a number of things.

Yes, all this is quite helpful, in order to make a good discussion about this.

I agree with bomligeti on a number of things. To me this chart looks restricting; as a clarinetist, I don't see any reason why a true gliss can't be notated across any range of notes.

A clarinetist once told me that any gliss is possible but they're ineffective below middle C. Anything higher can be arranged with a combination of techniques.

In the beginning I was into the darkness and emptiness on this topic...

And after reading the thread, I'm still there :facepalm: ...

Hi all - bored at home in Covid Quarantine - and stumbled on this thread. I'm a professional clarinetist - www.paulsaundersclarinet.co.uk -and thought I'd share my thoughts. 

Gliss-ing is tricky one to master and is only usually utilised from c (above middle c) to the top (rhapsody in blue) c. Having said that, it's possible to go further as the gif demonstrates. 

The way in to this effect is to imagine 'catching' the sound at the back of your throat using your larynx in the same way a thumb might go over a water tap to make a jet. If done correctly, this will strangle the sound, it doesn't sound good but it's not supposed to.

Try this on an 'all fingers down' C. When you hear the change the next step is to make a break in the sound. 

Under normal circumstances this would have a massive detrimental affect on the note BUT because you have 'caught' the sound at the back of the throat you 'should' begin to gain control of the beginning of a gliss.

Initially, lift the RH 4th (ring) finger whilst playing the C and see if that works. If it doesn't, then you haven't successfully 'caught' the sound.

If you have, CONGRATULATIONS  ! 

Then experiment with lifting the middle and then the index finger. Once the 'break' in the sound has been made, you should be able to gliss anywhere within the 2 octave range, providing your embouchure can already find those notes.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/zuze94g24ajvlj4/Quarantine%20Glissing%20Lesson%20Vid.mov?dl=0

Hope that helps.

Paul 

On 4/6/2020 at 12:27 PM, Paul Saunders said:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/zuze94g24ajvlj4/Quarantine Glissing Lesson Vid.mov?dl=0

Dear Paul,

your video lesson sound GREAT!!!  What  about glissando from up to down?....may be you could do a second video lesson?

Greetings,

Antonio

Hi Antonio,

Thanks for the query - going up and/or down involves the same technique so it shouldn't be a problem. 

Paul Saunders 

www.paulsaundersclarinet.co.uk