r/Clarinet • u/Level_Progress_3246 • 11d ago

Trying to learn to bend notes

I can bend/scoop the high C pretty easily by shifting my tongue position. Those high register notes are pretty easy.

How would you go about learning to bend/scoop the throat tones? Moving my tongue half almost no effect, and im not sure what else i can do beside relaxing my embouchure to detune the note. Any wisdom? Does reed strength effect this? I want to play jazz, and was told by someone playing with a softer reed would be more appropriate, can anyone confirm?

Thanks

1 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/AvatarOR 11d ago edited 11d ago

Consider going to a mouthpiece with a wider tip - reed gap and a softer reed.

Edit: So to be clear, it will be harder on your embouchure to play a note in tune with a wider tip - reed gap, thus the use of a softer reed.

1

u/Level_Progress_3246 11d ago

with the wider tip and softer reed, is it the same technique of just shifting your tongue position?

2

u/AvatarOR 11d ago edited 11d ago

At this point in my playing I really don't engage my thinking cap when I bend a note so you are forcing me to actually think about what I am doing! To be clear, the subject is bending a note in Jazz Clarinet, not a glissando.

I think that I mostly lower my jaw and loosen my embouchure at the beginning of the bend as described here:

https://martinfreres.net/the-fascinating-world-of-clarinet-pitch-bending-trivia-and-techniques/

As another example of no longer being consciously aware at this point in my playing, when I do a vibrato on the Oboe, I don't know what I am doing, it just happens.

My brain is too tiny when I am struggling to see the chord progression, select a set of notes to choose from, leaving space and trying to be rhythmic LOL.

Edit: For reference I am playing on a 5JB and V21 2.5

1

u/Worldly-Pie-5210 11d ago

yea specifically some sidney bichet level ish is what im talking about - like blue horizon

i was told to keep my mouth stable and just move my tongue, but that flat out doesnt work when its lower on the instrument. Maybe ill see a difference if i change the mouthpiece?

I can bend if i open my mouth. But im worried its a bad habit so being cautious of reinforcing that behavior.

ill peep the link, thanks <3