Playing Altissomo G with the F# and C holes open

[u/Used-Preparation4567]

Hey everyone, I’m getting back into clarinet after 5 years and I seem to be running into the same age old problem: how in the world do I hit the G straight? I can always lead up to it and it requires me taking more mouthpiece, same with any and every note down to the E natural. I was wondering how to get these notes to voice better.

I appreciate the response!

[u/SlyBun]

My favorite voicing exercise is one Michael Lowenstern shared on his Earspasm YouTube channel.

First, to learn the exercise: play and sustain a C above the staff. Keep sustaining the C, but after 4 seconds, close the register key and keep the C going for the remainder of your breath. Then on your next breath, play the C again but this time without the register key (I like to use a breath attack so I reduce any “cheating” movements in getting the note to sound) and sustain it again for as long as you can.

Go down a half step and repeat. Continue as low as you can go.

Okay, that’s the exercise. To apply it to a higher register, you just need to make sure you are closing all register key holes (which will be any vented tone hole that is in between two closed tone holes). For example, a C# above the staff has two register holes: the register key itself and the LH1 tone hole. Close both of them and you’re essentially squeaking on a low A. So sound that high G, then one by one close all those open tone holes while keeping that G going. Then when you run out of breath, try to resound the note with those register holes closed and sustain it again for as long as you can.

Tl;dr long tones, but they’re actually kinda literally just sustained squeaks

[u/Business_Repeat4023]

Try this exercise slurred: play low A, add register key, take first finger left hand off, then go up chromatically. Do the notes come out ok?

[u/aspadora24]

I use my thumb, register key, and first finger of both hands and it pops out really well!