Focus on the sound first. Clarinet is a whole different animal from sax, it requires a tighter embouchure, and the mouthpiece enters the mouth at a completely different angle. Don't make the mistake of holding the clarinet out in front of you so that the mouthpiece feels like a sax to you. I'd highly advise spending the money for at least a few lessons so you can be sure you have the embouchure and position right.

Fingering is fingering and technique is technique - just takes practice. The biggest issue for saxophonists learning clarinet is that the register key results in a jump of a 12th rather than an octave, so you have to keep in mind that the lower register of the clarinet ain't what you are used to, and there are some throat tones in between the lower register and the upper that require some practice to learn.

Good luck, don't rush it, and get the sound first. The rest is just sheddin'

 

Are there any good books?

 

Start here... This isn't a book of music to play, but a book that explains a lot about the mechanics and the proper way to play clarinet.

http://books.google.com/books?id=oQ...eM&sig=2UIRv1ygaqBcI66wC0Z244hPgCU&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result

As for playing material, the Rubank methods are a great place to get started, then as you get better, you will want to move into the Klose, Langenus, and Rose studies and etudes. Any music store should be able to get you any of this material.

 

I guess it probably goes without saying but, get an instructor up front and then periodically as you go along. Learning bad habits that are hard to break are practically guaranteed if you 'self train' when moving from sax to clarinet.

Also, as you noodle around, pick easy songs to play. This will help as you learn to cross the break and develop your tone. Expect to sound crappy compared to your clarinet pro friends for a while. Anything worth doing is gonna take some time.

 

Other than getting used to the register key and the transition from low to high registers, I found it took a little longer learning the low register fingering for notes on the music that are not the same as you are used to with the sax. This doesn't change until you're in the upper register. Then you get the challenge of learning the above staff register range not usually played on sax, unless you're an altissimo wizard.

 

Then you get the challenge of learning the above staff register range not usually played on sax, unless you're an altissimo wizard.

Maybe this is because I started on clarinet, but I find altissimo (initially) to be easier on clarinet than on sax. Although, now that I can play altissimo on sax, I can go higher than I can on clarinet, but it is still easier to hit altissimo on the clarinet.

Your first objective will be to cover the holes. That's harder than you might think. But it will come with practice.

+1

Anyone that has picked up a clarinet (that plays another instrument) always has trouble with this. If you don't completely cover the holes, you will have squeaks.

 

Your first objective will be to cover the holes. That's harder than you might think. But it will come with practice.

 

Also bear in mind that the bass clarinet is a great deal different from the Bb Clarinet. You will have an easier time going from tenor to bass clarinet than you will from Alto to Bb Clarinet.

Definitely get an instructor. This is where you will save time, gather strength, and learn the most.

 

Get used to the alternative pinky fingerings. There are no rollers so you have to use different fingerings for the chromatic stuff.

 

The best thing I did to learn the fingerings on clarinet was to practice the various scales with a point to master the basic fingerings and alternates. I practiced them SLOWLY. You know, metronome set to a speed slightly slower than snails in January and note values longer than double whole notes. This allowed me to think more about the fingering I was on and the fingering I was going to next.

 

Sounds good. How long did it take to master the scales using this technique? I realize YMMV, but for you, how long?

 

and make sure your clarinet is free from leaks and other misrepairs. You can waste numerous hours trying to "fix" a technique when the instrument itself needs a fixin' :shock:

make sure it sees a tech, or a good player to give it a good bill of health before you start noodling on it.

 

Sometimes it helps to start on a softer reed than what you are using on the sax.
If you're using a 2 1/2 on sax, use a 2 on clarinet. Going to a hard reed too fast only leads to bad habits.

The sound may be a bit thin, but it will help ensure that you are using a correct embouchure and not biting.

 

Remember to point the chin and keep the corners firm. Also make sure to use a high tongue position, like making an EEEEEE sound. Clarinet is a totally different beast, so treat it like one, and put some time into it before you expect much out of it.

Also, learn to play Eb with the right hand side key, and not the one on the left, or 1 and 1. If you dont understand what I'm speaking of right now, you will get it later. I started always using 1 and 1 for Eb and now I'm paying for it.

 

Do you have a teacher C-dude108?

I've been playing 37 years and have never used a 'high tongue, EEEEEE' position.
Doing that closes up your sound. Dropping that tongue makes the tone fuller, richer, and clearer. The only time I may want to raise my tongue is in the altissimo range.

Learning all fingerings for Eb/Bb will pay off in the long run. Actually learn ALL the alternate fingerings. You never know when the need for one will raise its ugly head.

 

Do you have a teacher C-dude108?

I've been playing 37 years and have never used a 'high tongue, EEEEEE' position.
Doing that closes up your sound. Dropping that tongue makes the tone fuller, richer, and clearer. The only time I may want to raise my tongue is in the altissimo range.

Learning all fingerings for Eb/Bb will pay off in the long run. Actually learn ALL the alternate fingerings. You never know when the need for one will raise its ugly head.

+5

You want all the resonance you can get to produce a big full clarinet sound. The only resonance chamber you have any control over is the oral cavity, so you don't want to close it off.

 

+1 on making sure the instrument is properly set up and not leaking.

Also make sure you have a reasonable mouthpiece.
Something nice and easy to use like a yamaha 4c

With the bass clarinet make sure you have the peg and don't rest it on the bell.

 

What I was trying to get at is if the back of your tongue is too low the sound will spread. The EEEE thing is an idea really. Its not really going to happen, but if you are thinking about it your tongue won't be sitting in the very bottom of your mouth, it will be somewhere in the middle. I wasn't suggesting closing off your throat completely, just increasing the speed of the airstream. Coming to Bb after bass clarinet and tenor sax, that is what i was taught.

edit: I suggested learning that one first because while learning all of them is the eventual goal, you have to start somewhere.

 

The tongue position varies dependent upon teacher and student

If you try blowing air at your hand, when you put the tongue up high and back you may find that your airstream is more concentrated and directed more towards the top, such as where the mpc opening is, versus other positions. This can be advantageous.

I have a fairly detailed writeup of the embouchure here
http://www.woodwindforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=860

of course, YMMV etc