Clarinet and Saxophone

[Jazz Kat]

Does the clarinet have the same fingering as a saxophone? B/C most saxists usually can double up on clarinet too, for the most part, so I'm wondering just how similiar, (besides the tone) that they are.

And plus, I just bought a Vito clarinet, so I'm wondering, if I become Buddy Defranco or something, I can play a little Najee!!

[Guest]

The clarinet is not quite the same as saxophone (or flute for that matter.) All are the Boehm system, but clarinet is a bit modified. It's usually best to learn clarinet 1st and then double on the others. Flute and sax fingerings basically are the same for each octave while clarinet takes about an octave and a half before anything resembling repetition occurs as you go up the horn. With clarinet you've also got throat tones as you approach the upper register. They can be a bit difficult to learn to control. Sax has an octave key. Clarinet has a register key. An educated left thumb will also be needed to cover the middle register f hole as well as working the register key....ah what the heck. Get a fingering chart and go for it! What I'm trying to say is that sax and clarinet be 2 different ani-mules that are very similar. It's just more difficult to go from already learned sax to learning clarinet than from learned clarinet to learning sax.

[Rosco]

It's just more difficult to go from already learned sax to learning clarinet than from learned clarinet to learning sax.

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Ain't that the truth. Picked a bass clari last year and I'm still getting to grips with the thing...

The 'bridge' between registers is a bitch!

[Chuck Nessa]

Nobody talking 'bout the Albert system anymore?

[Free For All]

Nobody talking 'bout the Albert system anymore?

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Is that the one where you bite down really hard on the reed?

Edited August 18, 2005 by Free For All

[Michael Fitzgerald]

YESS!!

[JSngry]

It's just more difficult to go from already learned sax to learning clarinet than from learned clarinet to learning sax.

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Ain't that the truth. Picked a bass clari last year and I'm still getting to grips with the thing...

The 'bridge' between registers is a bitch!

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Oh hell, bass clarinet is a freakin' BREEZE compared to "regular" clarinet. No holes to cover, and BOY does that make a difference!

I came to clarinet at age 18 from saxophone, which just didn't work. I learned to play it well enough to pass my juries/proficiency exams, doubled on it in dance band/show/etc gigs for a few years (and got my ass kicked by "Ebony Concerto" in the process) and finally let it go. It's a really beautiful instrument when played well, and I realized that I would never be able to play it well unless, maybe, I gave up tenor completely. Ain't no way that was gonna happen.

Learn it early, that's my advice. Wait too long (and it's less of a window than you might imagione, at least it was for me), and it's an uphill climb never fully conquered.

[king ubu]

Not that I'm really a musician, but... I started with clarinet at what... age 11 or 12, I think, and got a tenor (finally!) around 17 or 18. My teacher insisted he would tell me when the moment had come, and - of course not tone-wise, but that's something you'll never stop working on - I came to gripes with the tenor within 3 to 4 weeks. Easier fingering, much easier, much less force needed (I've since lost my clarinet "chops", regrettably, since I stopped playing it now and then... rule of thumb: you have a problem if you don't play clarinet for three days, and I tell you this is true!).

Of course I quickly played some Vandoren 4 reeds, and I needed almost one a day, until I came to develop a softer embouchure working well on tenor (I still play 4 reeds, but the V16 now, and not some plastic mouthpiece but an Otto Link metal).

I've never really heard of someone going the other way successfully... I cannot imagine doing so. It requires a lot of work and patience, and it may throw you off your sax routine (embouchure-wise, mainly - I guess the fingering is the easy part).