2006-10-13 16:56:32 · 5 answers · asked by lsisk 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Performing Arts
Clarinet has a cylindrical (tube-shaped) body, whereas saxophone has a conical (cone-shaped) body. The cylindrical body on the clarinet causes the fundamentals to jump a major 12th when you activate the register key, wheras the cylindrical body of the saxophone casuses the fundamentals to jump only a perfect octave when the register key is activated. Because of the gap of the 12th on the clarinet, it causes the need for extra keys (called the throat tones) to span this "break", which is also a difficulty point on the instrument. While my discussions have focused on the low registers of these instruments, it is important to understand this as it translates to the altissimo registers.
This conical shape of the clarinet also lets it jump more easily to higher partials in the upper register--plus the added throat keys, allow the instrument to open all the way up to the mouthpiece, allowing more possibilities in altissimo figurings.
2006-10-13 17:56:25 · answer #1 · answered by Composer 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I assume you do mean playing the harmonic series all from one fingering, like low Bb on alto. I don't really play clarinet so I can't address the clarinet exactly, but it has to do with the shape of the instrument, the mouthpiece, and the strength of reed you're using. The design of the instrument influences which overtones are predominant in the sound, which is what causes them to sound different (if you can find one online, there are pretty neat graphs of the relative strengths of overtones in various woodwind instruments). I know a lower baffle on a saxo mouthpiece makes harmonics and altissimo easier for me, so you might experiment with that.
2006-10-13 17:13:23 · answer #2 · answered by Alex 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Every instrument has a different overtone series based on all the differences of the instrument. Those instruments, like clarinet, whose overtone series is more compact find it easier to "hit harmonics". Simply, the overtone series for clarinet is closer note to note than the alto sax.
2006-10-16 02:46:00 · answer #3 · answered by Rick D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Alto clarinets are bad news they can be hard to find and are parts are rarely written for them so highly unlikely if they will have try outs. If you want to play a bass instrument play the bass clarinet. Parts are always written for it and in many pieces it is a very important instrument and although the parts are often easy you really notice if you bass clarinetist doesn't show up to practices. enjoy.
2016-05-22 00:23:00 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the saxophone is a bigger instrument therefore you have to blow harder to get higher notes :D
i play clarinet and it is easier to play high notes than low notes for some people I on the ither hand dont have that problem
2006-10-13 17:05:53 · answer #5 · answered by ellmo 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋