[beefheart]

I hope it's not a sign of poor judgement, or poor character generally, but rather perhaps just old age...but I'm finding that clarinets are a charming instrument with which to make a good sound with relatively little effort (and saxophones of course, and accordians too for that matter). I so enjoy playing these, these days...maybe I'm getting lazier, and I know I'm getting older :baby:...but I'm spending increasingly more time converting my fiddle repertoire to reeds (both fixed and free).

Seems like, other than the wind of course, one can sit rather stationary, expend relatively little effort, while the instrument does the heavy lifting. I'm only afraid that if I put all my time into reeds, I'll be SOL when my teeth fall out. Well, there's still my flute...

Anyone else gravitating toward woodwinds for these "corporeal" issues of mortality (and physics)? I also figure that when the economy completely collapses, reeds are an ideal instrument for keeping oneself alive and eating, on the street....

 

[Dave Dolson]

I'm playing more and more clarinet as time goes by, but not for the reasons you listed (even if valid). I play it more because I find it challenging and the more I use it the better I play it. It still is only a small percentage of my overall musical effort, though. I wish I was better at it and felt the same familiarity with it as I do with saxophone.

I can play in a trad-band and feel comfortable on sop or alto even if the leader calls something unfamiliar (and there are few tunes from that era that I haven't at least heard before). Not so with clarinet. But some tunes lend themselves to clarinet better than others, and I prefer AND enjoy playing them on clarinet. It sure gives the ensemble a whole different sound. DAVE

 

[beefheart]

Yes, I wish I had the same comfort with sax and cl too -- I'm very comfortable in altissimo on cl, but don't have the same facility with saxes.

For an intimately evocative sound, that wood really has it. Then of course, it does scream a bit too in altissimo. I think this is one of the reasons I like it so much -- that great range...all in one little stick (did I mention that I was lazy? :|)

 

[bandmommy]

Playing clarinet is rather enjoyable.
At least when your teeth fall out you won't have to worry about 'biting', and you won't have to buy patches to avoid those unsightly tooth marks on the top of your mouthpiece.

My situation is quite the opposite of yours. When I'm feeling old and lazy I play saxophone.

 

[beefheart]

Yes, cl is really a nice instrument--especially for personal enjoyment. It's compact, sounds very good played quietly, and has tremendous capacity for expression even played quietly. This is one of the things that attracted me to cl immediately--having come to it quite late in life. Phrasing and articulation seem so natural. I like the feel of the instrument quite a lot.

 

[dexdex]

I also rediscover it. It was my first horn before sax, but I got fed up by all that traditional jazz still popular and asked for over here. So I needed some time to put some distance between her (the clarinet, en français, she is female) and me.
I just recently bought a '61 Selmer Paris Series 9, with that catchy low register. Pure joy to play down there. So we're getting along again..
This is how it sounds: I Got Rythm, from this month's TOTM.

 

[cpaace]

Sounds pretty great to me. As a beginner, but, old I wonder how long it will take me to produce a sound like that?

 

[beefheart]

My ****r wouldn't load it dex. I acquired a series 9 bass in April--which likely is what spurred this whole cl thing for me.

Regarding TMT (too much trad)...I put on a Chris Speed record about three weeks ago and haven't been able to stop listening to it yet...

 

[sycc]

Playing clarinet is rather enjoyable.
At least when your teeth fall out you won't have to worry about 'biting', and you won't have to buy patches to avoid those unsightly tooth marks on the top of your mouthpiece.

My situation is quite the opposite of yours. When I'm feeling old and lazy I play saxophone.

Plus 1 on that! Clarinet is tough! Escpially starting on clarinet at age 40 after playing sax since 8!

 

[bandmommy]

Plus 1 on that! Clarinet is tough! Escpially statring at age 40 after playing sax since 8!

Forty years on clarinet! I find sax to be 'easier' in some respects.

 

[beefheart]

I must be a bit of an anomaly. For some reason, the cl felt intuitive from virtually the first moment (albeit, the second time I tried...the first time--about 15 years previous--I don't recall it being so natural). I grew up blowing on saxes and flutes, but, never really blew on a cl during those years.

Of course, GIVEN covering all the holes and not inadvertantly touching adjacent keys! What I think I mean, is...that given the technical challenges--which compared to sax can be a bit dicey--the horn seems so easy to make speak, and throughout three registers...

But, I think one of the differences between my playing cl now and 20 years earlier, is that in the intervening 20 or so years I've been playing lots of fiddle and other stringed instruments--acquiring lots of dexterity that perhaps is making my cl playing that much easier for me. So, the fingering of a cl--while it was probably more of a challenge for me earlier--is not that difficult for me now.

 

[bandmommy]

It touches my heart to read that you guys actually enjoy playing the 'Misery Stick'.
It has always been my first love. Sax came as something that I needed to learn in order to 'teach' and cover in the pit.
Wierd as it sounds, the instrument feels more 'alive' in my hands than my saxophones. And I love my saxophones...

 

[sycc]

Forty years on clarinet! I find sax to be 'easier' in some respects.

I'm 44; I started on clarinet at 40 after 32 years on sax! Therefore clarinet is my nemesis!

 

[beefheart]

the instrument feels more 'alive' in my hands than my saxophones. And I love my saxophones...

Yes, this is how it feels for me as well. I attribute it to open holes, increased resistance, smaller size, etc. Feels more like a flute in a way. Very responsive.. My saxes are set up quite well and are nicely responsive. But, cl is more "immediate" (?)

Now, bass cl is more like sax, in these regards, and lacks these aspects. But, has yet another dimension and its separate allure. Without my bass, I would have a crisis indeed--as I would not be as compelled to NOT play saxes.. :mrgreen:

The real problem is...sax and cl are both necessary! [rolleyes]

 

[RCNELSON]

As much as I love my saxophones, like many of the rest of you, the clarinet is becoming as much me as the saxes. I am finally over the "I hate the fingering system" part after almost 40 years of playing both. I'm really looking forward to playing reed 2 (tenor, clarinet and flute) of the Wizard of Oz opening the end of next week and playing until the weekend before Christmas. Some great clarinet passages.

 

[martinm5862]

It touches my heart to read that you guys actually enjoy playing the 'Misery Stick'.
It has always been my first love. Sax came as something that I needed to learn in order to 'teach' and cover in the pit.
Wierd as it sounds, the instrument feels more 'alive' in my hands than my saxophones. And I love my saxophones...

It is more alive in your hands. Covering the open holes, your fingers are the pads.

 

[tictactux]

It is more alive in your hands. Covering the open holes, your fingers are the pads.

Where can I get Roo fingers? :idea:

 

[bandmommy]

Where can I get Roo fingers? :idea:

Ask Dog Pants! He might be able to set you up with some. Don't know if they'll be black or white though.....

 

[tictactux]

Ask Dog Pants! He might be able to set you up with some. Don't know if they'll be black or white though.....

The interesting thing is that we clarinetists never have a "sticky fingers" syndrome. Looking at my own fingers, I suspect they'd be rejected by most repair people, for "probably leaking like sieves". Yet they don't.
I must try suede pads some day...

 

[bandmommy]

Suede pads, hmmmm....
I have a pair of suede pants. Very comfortable.