Help PLEASE Clarinettists!?

Question

I'm trying out for all districts this year, and I have no clue what the Scales are called! I don't have to transpose at districts and the rules state that they won't be called out as "concert" scales and If they were to say play your G Scale you would play your G Scale...What is the G scale on the clarinet and how can I figure out what they are all called? I've looked EVERYWHERE and I just can't find the answer! Please Help me!

I would ask my band director, but he's a total a** and there sadly aren't any music stores around here...

Answer 1

how about asking your band director(s) for help? and if not them, go to your local music store, they might could help you too.

good luck and sorry i couldn't answer your question!

Answer 2

When they say "your G" then you start on G and play in the key of G (G A B C D E F# G)

Concert pitch on a Bb clarinet is a step lower (you play a step higher) than "your Bb" so if they said "concert Bb" then you start on C and play in the key of C but this isn't your issue here. (see below for more on this)

So, for scales in "your" anything - start on the note they call and play it in the key of that note.

http://www.maxhammondphotos.org.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2006/03/circle-of-fifths.gif
a chart like that will help you to know what the key signature is for each of the major and minor keys.

It really is as simple as, if they ask for "your C major" scale then you start on C and play in C major (no sharps or flats). ☺

For later, when asked about "concert C" scale - what I do is simply go up two half steps to know what note to start on. If they say Concert C major then I go up C-C# and C#-D and start on D and play in the key of D (D E F# G A B C# D) and I know the key signature because it's on that chart in the link above (which you should memorize).

Good luck.

Answer 3

Ok the clarinet is a tone above concert pitch. When you play C on your Clarinet it is concert D! Be aware of the flats and sharps! But since you dont have to worry about concert pitch Just play scales as they are with their number of flats and sharps as below

C major- no flats or sharps
G major - 1# (sharp)
F major- 1b *(flat)
D major- 2#
Bb major- 2b
A major- 3#
Eb major- 3b
E major- 4#
Ab major- 4b
B major- 5#
Db major- 5b
F# major- 6#
Gb major- 6b

Good luck with your audition