Hey - I had a look at the 2nd movement of the 2nd Weber clarinet concertto today. In the middle , when it leaps from low e to top g, I dont know how to get the leap, & which fingerings to use. Also what is a fingering for top Ab/G#, as it isn't in the scales book.

Thanks
Jonathan

is that E with ledger lines below the stave to the G with lots of ledger lines above? (i don't actually have the music to this piece)

personally i normally use the same fingering as a high Eb for the Ab i think

Another fingering for high G# is thumb-register-23456,C#. It's more secure than the others, but check the tuning on your own clarinet. High G, I just do first finger with thumb and register and C# at bottom.

Top G is easy: all finger down except 3rd finger LH, ie play a clarion D and lift your 3rd finger off.

For a smooth transition from low E to here, sorry, you're on your own! Practise...etc

The high G# has a lot of alternate fingerings. Some work better with some clarinets than others.

The fingering chart is here:

http://www.wfg.woodwind.org/clarinet/

Good luck.

Oh, and when practising those upper altissimo notes, best do it in a field far from any built up areas!

Steve

For the G, I use LH middle and ring fingers and RH index and middle fingers, with the Eb key open, lifting the RH index finger for the Ab. Every instrument is different though, and you may find that you need to experiment with a few different fingerings to find one that suits you and is in tune.

You need to make sure you've got tons of support when going up to the top G. As stevensfo says, practice is the key. Remember that any phrasing written in may be an editorial amendment.

Jonathan. If you have a chance, buy a copy of " 303 Clarinet Fingerings and 276 trills," by Alan Sim. I find that my clarinet (especially the loan A that I have at the moment) needs different fingerings to the standard to get a nice tone. My teacher and I find the book invaluable. I think it costs around £4.99, nad you can get it in Balaams in Bury I think (at least that's where I think my teacher bought it for me from). It's very useful for those high notes.

Thanks Lizzie - I need something like that. My fingering charts are very lacking!! I'll have a look!!

Jonathan