Switching from Bb Clarinet to Eb Clarinet

[mycrabface]

Right... When I switched, I found the Eb easier to get the notes out, but when I reached the higher notes I needed more breath support. And my sound was TERRIBLE! Especially with the high notes. I sounded sharp. I've tried self-adjusting to make it less sharp but it doesn't work. Does anyone know what might be my problem? Its MY fault, not the instrument's, because this instrument is relatively new. Newer than my Bb.

[Bob]

Why switch to an Eb?  I have always heard people, even college directors, making fun of it, and hating it.

It could take time to adjust.  Might be an embouchure thing.

It still be be a bad instrument.  Depends who picked it out, etc.

[mycrabface]

Why switch to an Eb?  I have always heard people, even college directors, making fun of it, and hating it.

It could take time to adjust.  Might be an embouchure thing.

It still be be a bad instrument.  Depends who picked it out, etc.

No offence, but you sound shallow.. I switched to Eb because the person whom it was given to couldn't manage it so she passed it to me. Right now I'm playing both. I love the e-flat because it can go into the range of the flute and at the same time sound nice and velvety. What do you mean by 'it can still be a bad instrument, depends on who picked it out'?

[Bob]

Eb clarinets aren't "well-recieved" by a lot of music people.  They make fun of them.  "What do you call a hundred Eb clarinets at the bottom of the ocean?  A good thing.... What's the difference between an Eb clarinet and firewood?  The Eb clarinet burns slower.....  On and on...

Newness means nothing.  It could be new, it could be old.  It's the quality of the instrument.  Someone had to pick the instrument to buy it.  If that person knew how to pick a good instrument, than it's probably good.  If it's straight off the shelf, it could be a dud -- even a good brand will have some duds.  It may be the one everyone else decided not to buy for some reason.  Someone needs to play test the instrument when purchasing.  Just like a piano.


So I asked a clarinet colleague...

Eb clarinets are challenging to play in tune, even for a college student.

You need to use an Eb clarinet reed.  A common mistake is to use a Bb clarinet reed.

It takes practice, esp for tuning.  A student should be taking clarinet lessons (from a full clarinet player of course).  Band directors (even the really dedicated ones) can't know everything about everything. 

Eb clarinet needs a strong embouchure.

Only use an Eb clarinet when absolutely necessary.  I'm guessing from another post I think I remember of yours that your group is probably playing Holst or something like that.  Holst's ok.  If it's for an extra optional part, then it's not worth it -- too much work for results, unless you plan on using it later.


Take all that with a grain of salt of course. 

I just saw the post and was curious.  I've very, very rarely seen someone playing an Eb clarinet in a group.  I've often heard the instrument mocked.